Repeated jump ability of young basketball players at different game stages and its relationship to aerobic capacity

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the performance indices of a repeated jumping test (RJT) over three different stages of a basketball game, and to examine their relationships with the aerobic capacity of young basketball players. Sixteen young (17.2 ± 0.4 yrs) trained basketball players performed an RJT (six sets of six consecutive vertical jumps) after warm-up, at halftime, and after completing a full game, as well as an aerobic power test (shuttle run test for 20m), each test taking place on a different day. Performance indices for each of the RJTs were the ideal jump height (IJ), the total jump height (TJ) of all the jumps, and the performance decrement (PD) throughout the tests. The IJ and TJ were significantly higher at the halftime compared with both after warm-up and after a full-time game (p<0.01). No major variations were noted in IJ and TJ in the full-time game compared to the warm-up. During any of the three game stages, there was no significant difference in the PD. No significant relationships were found between the aerobic capacity and any of the RJT performance indices at the different game stages. Given the present findings, coaches and players may consider the use of a more intense warm-up protocol, one that will efficiently prepare players for the early stages of a basketball game. The results also suggest that the aerobic energy system's involvement with repeated jumping activity is only minor when young players play basketball.