Lower Baskets and Smaller Balls Influence Mini-Basketball Players’ Throwing Motions

Abstract

Children have different anthropometrical size ratios in relation to ball and basket compared to adults, but usually compete on the same basket height and field. Therefore, they have to adapt their throwing technique, which might result in movement patterns unfavorable for long-term performance development. In this study, we analyze how children adapt their throwing techniques to different conditions. Seven basketball players (10.14 ± 1.12 years) completed a total of 60 throws, combining different ball sizes, basket heights, and distances. The throwing movements were captured by a 3D motion capture system. Accumulated distances between all time courses of angles, angular accelerations, and velocities served as similarity measures and were analyzed by cluster analysis, including purity measures. Considering all throws, a division into seven clusters separated each individual. For all subjects, distances accounted for the most changes in the throwing motion (purity 0.81–1). In the subclusters, the basket heights were not a decisive condition (purity 0.42–0.63). However, an increase in purity was found compared to the main clusters. Children seem to adapt their movement behavior primarily to throwing distances and subordinately to basket heights, which indicates that changing playing conditions (e.g., closer 3-point line, lower baskets) might be beneficial in mini-basketball.