The purpose of this study was to assess kinematic and kinetic differences between three tasks (drop-jump, sidestep cutting, and pivot tasks) commonly used to evaluate anterior cruciate ligament risk factors. Nineteen female collegiate soccer athletes from a Division I institution participated in this study. Participants performed a drop-jump task, and two unanticipated tasks, sidestep cutting and pivot. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were conducted to assess differences in the kinematic and kinetic parameters between tasks. The pivot task had lower knee flexion (-41.2 +/- 8.8 degrees ) and a higher valgus angle (-7.6 +/- 10.1 degrees ) than the sidestep (-53.9 +/- 9.4 degrees and -2.9 +/- 10.0 degrees , respectively) at maximum vertical ground reaction force. The pivot task (0.8 +/- 0.3 multiples of body weight) had higher peak posterior ground reaction force than the drop-jump (0.3 +/- 0.06 multiples of body weight) and sidestep cutting (0.3 +/- 0.1 multiples of body weight), as well as higher internal varus moments (0.72 +/- 0.3 N . m/kg . m) than the drop-jump (0.14 +/- 0.07 N . m/kg . m) and sidestep (0.17 +/- 0.5 N . m/kg . m) at peak stance. During the pivot task, the athletes presented a more erect posture and adopted strategies that may place higher loads on the knee joint and increase the strain on the anterior cruciate ligament.