Abstract
Performance profiles have begun to be identified as extremely useful in order to help coaches individualize training according to the age and gender of athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the activity demands and speed profile of U18 female basketball players during competitive matches. Time variables (real and playing time), distance variables (distance performed, distance in speed zones, high intensity distance and distance covered sprinting) and speed variables (number of sprints, sprint duration, maximum speed and average speed) were recorded from forty-eight players belonging to four teams (13 guards, 22 forwards and 13 centers). WIMUPROTM inertial measurement units with ultra-wide band (UWB) indoor-tracking technology recorded six matches during final four in the season 2018/2019. A one factor ANOVA with Cohen’s effect sizes (d) were used to identify the differences between groups (playing position and match day). Distance per minute (123.96 vs 112.67 m), high intensity distance per minute (15.48 vs 14 m), running distance (403.2 vs 541.28 m) and average speed (5.05 vs 5.41 km/h) were significantly higher on day 3 than 1, respectively. About playing position, forwards played more minutes during games, so covered a greater distance, more sprints and high intensity actions than the rest. In spite of fatigue, day 3 showed a greater intensity than day 1, therefore, the last day was the crucial one for the teams in the tournament. Forwards when playing more minutes obtain higher absolute values but not per minute which could mean a lower performance of the team.
Highlights
The analysis of demands during competition in team sports is becoming increasingly popular.The existing research in basketball focuses mainly on professional adult players, revealing a lack of knowledge on performance in the formative stages
All the players and coaches were informed about the research protocol, requisites, benefits, and risks, and the legal guardian of each player written consent was obtained before the start of the study conforming to the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) which was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Extremadura
The variables analysed were: Time variables; Distance variables; Speed variables
Summary
The analysis of demands during competition in team sports is becoming increasingly popular.The existing research in basketball focuses mainly on professional adult players, revealing a lack of knowledge on performance in the formative stages. The evaluation of adolescent players is of vital importance, especially in U18 players, in order to support a proper transition to the adult stage [1,2] This period is characterized as a time when players can tolerate high training loads and demands in competition, as well as improve their levels of technical and tactical performance [3]. In this regard, it would be important to add knowledge on the monitoring of physical performance in youth basketball players nearing transition to a senior level and compete at high level in professional leagues. Previous research has evaluated profiles on physiological and anthropometric characteristics in elite basketball players, descriptive data on the characteristics of basketball players are lacking [5]
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