Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare external loads (EL) between elite, junior, male and female basketball players. Male (n = 25) and female players (n = 48) were monitored during 11 competitive matches (3 matches per team). EL was measured using local positioning system and microsensor technology to determine total, high-intensity (14–21 km·h−1), and sprint (>21 km·h−1) distance (m) covered, total (n) and relative (n·min−1) accelerations and decelerations, ratio of accelerations:decelerations, and total (arbitrary units [AU]) and relative (AU·min−1) player load. EL was compared between sexes overall and according to each playing position (guards, forwards, and centers). Males covered larger (p < 0.05) high-intensity and sprint distances, and completed more (p < 0.05) decelerations than females; while female players experienced a greater (p < 0.05) ratio of accelerations:decelerations. Greater decelerations (p < 0.05) were observed for males in the guard position compared to females, while more (p < 0.05) accelerations·min−1 were apparent for females in the forward position compared to males. The current findings indicate differences in EL, particularly the high-intensity and acceleratory demands, exist between elite, junior, male and female basketball players during competition and are affected by playing position. These outcomes can be used in developing sex- and position-specific training plans, and in turn improving the physical preparedness of junior basketball players for competition demands at the elite level.
Highlights
Monitoring of external load (EL) in basketball is essential to understand the physical demands experienced by players during training and competition [1]
Local positioning systems (LPS), and accelerometers are commonly used to quantify EL in basketball players during competition, with an increasing number of studies emerging in this area [3,4,5,6,7,8]
Position-specific analyses mirrored the high-intensity and sprint differences between sexes evident for the whole sample, while greater decelerations were observed for male guards compared to females and higher acelerations·min−1 were apparent for female forwards compared to males
Summary
Monitoring of external load (EL) in basketball is essential to understand the physical demands experienced by players during training and competition [1]. While the available research reporting on EL in basketball players is growing, much of the existing data are indicative of male players, with female players being largely under-represented [9,10,11,12,13]. In this regard, it is difficult to develop a definitive consensus on key differences in EL between male and female basketball players, especially given only one study has directly compared EL between sexes. Public Health 2020, 17, 1456; doi:10.3390/ijerph17041456 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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