Centre of mass

• Centre of mass is the point where the mass of the body tends to be concentrated and balanced in all directions.
• The centre of mass depends on :

  • The body position
  • The athletes body itself (shape)
  • Gender
• Body position affects CoM because it changes the distribution of weight
• Gender affects CoM due to differences in height and muscle size between males and females
• Shape affects CoM as different shapes have different masses at different points, so they will have different centres of gravity
• The line of gravity is an imaginary line which extends from the centre of mass to the ground.
• Stability is the ability of the body to withstand force and return to its original position.