Physical Demands in Three Different Basketball Competitions Played By the Same Under-18 Players

Hugo Salazar,Julen Castellano,Franc Garcia,Luka Svilar

doi:10.26773/mjssm.210909

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare the physical demands of the same team in three different basketball com- petitions (EBA league (EBA), U18 regional league (U18L), and a U18 international tournament (U18T)) during the same season. Data from eleven U18 players (age: 16.92 ± 0.67 years) were collected using inertial movement units. As external load variables, Player Load (PL), accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), changes of direction (COD), and jumps (JUMP) were expressed in their total (t) and high intensity (h) values. The analysis of variances (ANOVA) and effect size (ES, Cohen’s d) with their respective 90% confidence intervals were applied to identify differences between the competitions. U18T showed the highest values in PL, tACC, tDEC, hDEC, tCOD, tJUMP, and hJUMP (small to moderate ES). However, the hACC and hCOD values were greater in EBA (small ES) than in U18L and U18T. In conclusion, all three competitions presented different external load demands for the same group of players. This data could help basketball coaches to optimize the training process based on the competition in which their team plays. Furthermore, data could also indicate the most suitable competition for players’ development.

Highlights

Basketball is a team-based and opposition sport in which high-intensity actions, such as accelerations, changes of direction, and jumps, are combined with moments of pause during games (Stojanovic et al, 2018)
This study aimed to describe and compare the physical demands of the same U18 players in three different basketball competitions during the same season
This is the first investigation that examines the differences in the external load demands of different competitions in the same basketball players using micro-technology to the authors’ knowledge

Summary

Introduction

Basketball is a team-based and opposition sport in which high-intensity actions, such as accelerations, changes of direction, and jumps, are combined with moments of pause during games (Stojanovic et al, 2018). It is important to quantify the physical demands experienced by players during different basketball competitions to improve the process of players’ sports growth from lower categories until professionalism (Petway et al, 2020). Most clubs have programmes to select and develop the talent of young basketball players. Through training, their final purpose is to prepare potential players for the training and competition demands of professional basketball (Sotiriadou & Shilbury, 2013). Various strategies have been proven to be successful during the development of sports talent, such as the theories of 10 years and deliberate practice (Ericsson et al, 1993; Newell & Rosenbloom, 1981). There are critical moments in the maturation process at which development can be greatly stimulated if the players engage with situations

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