Abstract
Although technical skills are a prerequisite for success in basketball, little is known about how they develop over time. In this study, we model the trajectories of technical skill development in young basketball players and investigate the effects of training experience, training volume, body composition, maturity status, physical performance, and club characteristics on skill development. A total of 264 male basketballers from five age-cohorts (11 to 15 years of age) were followed consecutively over three years using a mixed-longitudinal design. Technical skills, training experience and volume, basic anthropometrics, body composition, biological maturation and physical performance were assessed bi-annually. A multilevel hierarchical linear model was used for trajectory analysis. Non-linear trends (p < 0.01) were observed in speed shot shooting, control dribble, defensive movement, slalom sprint, and slalom dribble. Being more experienced and physically fitter had a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect on technical skill development; greater fat-free mass negatively affected skills demanding quick running and rapid changes of direction with or without the ball (p < 0.05). Training volume and biological age did not explain differences in technical skill development (p > 0.05). Moreover, belonging to different clubs had no significant influence on the technical skills trajectories of players. Our findings highlight the important role that individual differences play, over and beyond club structure, in developing skills. Findings improve our understanding on how technical skills develop during adolescence through training, growth, and biological maturation.
Highlights
High levels of technical skill are a prerequisite for success in both adult and children’s basketball, with regards to actions such as catching, passing, dribbling, shooting, and shuffling [1]
The mean outcomes in speed shot shooting and passing tests increased with age, whereas in control dribble, defensive movement, slalom sprint, and slalom dribble timed performance systematically improved with age
Mean training experience, fat-free mass, maturity offset, and overall physical performance increased with age, whereas mean training volume showed a distinct pattern, with the number of training hours per week being the same until
Summary
High levels of technical skill are a prerequisite for success in both adult and children’s basketball, with regards to actions such as catching, passing, dribbling, shooting, and shuffling [1]. At the highest competitive level, these technical skills are crucial to performance [2].
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