Correlation Between Elite Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Skills Testing And Future Success In The Sport

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Wheelchair basketball practices are built around developing technical and tactical skills required in game situations. To assess performance of these skills, testing protocols have been developed. This allows both player and coach to determine improvements. However, does achieving high scores on skills tests translate to success on the basketball court during competition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the relationship between skills test results and performance during competition as determined by the average efficiency scores. METHODS: In April, 2013, 25 female wheelchair basketball players were invited to compete for positions on the 2014 National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Senior Women’s National Team. Skills tests were similar to those used at NWBA/PVA National Wheelchair Basketball Camps. Strength testing assessments were developed by a panel of NWBA Coaches with a history of National and International coaching experience. The results were then correlated with the box scores and player efficiency ratings obtained during the playoffs at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) Women’s World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Toronto, June, 2014. The USA Women’s team was divided into two groups by classification (players with functional classifications of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 represented Group 1 and players with functional classification of 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 represented Group 2) for analysis. RESULTS: Player efficiency was differentially related to skills tests based on player classification. Among Group 1 players, higher player efficiency ratings during the World Championship games corresponded directly with better non-dominant passing (accuracy r = .95, p = .05; stationary distance r = 1.00, p < .001; moving distance r = 1.00, p < .001). In contrast, higher percentage of free throws was directly related to better player efficiency for the players in Group 2 (r = 1.00, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings may represent differential skill sets needed by lower and higher class players. Passing, in particular non-dominant passing skills, may give players with a lower classifications an advantage on the court; whereas, accuracy of free throws (and more opportunity) may be a skill that sets players with higher classification apart.