Training-Induced Change in Aerobic Fitness and Anaerobic Power among Female College Basketball Players

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine training-induced changes in aerobic fitness and anaerobic power in a sample of division I, female college basketball players. METHODS: Aerobic fitness and anaerobic power were measured in a sample of female college basketball players before and after preseason training. Aerobic fitness was measured using a VO2 max test, and anaerobic power was measured using a Wingate test. Preseason training lasted one month and consisted of 8 hours per week of a combination of weight training, high-intensity interval sprint training, and skill workouts. Paired-sample t-tests were used to examine change pre- and post-intervention. Pearson correlations were conducted to examine potential associations among variables. RESULTS: A total of 13 female athletes completed this study. Maximal aerobic fitness significantly (p = .013) increased after preseason training, from 47.9 to 49.9 kg/ml/min. Relative peak power and relative mean power significantly increased after preseason training from 8.3 to 9.1 W/kg (p = .025) and from 6.7 to 7.6 W/kg (p < .001), respectively. Fatigue index did not significantly change as a result of preseason training. Despite these positive results, individual responses varied widely. Change in maximal aerobic fitness ranged from +0.2 to +6.1 ml/kg/min. Change in relative peak anaerobic power ranged from -1.0 to +3.0 W/kg, and change in relative mean anaerobic power ranged from +0.9 to +1.5 W/kg. Interestingly, change in maximal oxygen uptake and change in measures of anaerobic power were not significantly correlated with baseline levels of either of these variables. There were also no significant correlations between these changes in performance and age, year in school, or position played. There was, however, a significant, positive correlation (r = .77, p = .002) between change in relative peak anaerobic power and relative mean anaerobic power. CONCLUSIONS: Preseason training can have a positive effect on aerobic endurance and anaerobic power. These changes varied widely between athletes. However, this variation was not related to baseline fitness levels, age, year in school, or position played. This information may be useful for strength and conditioning coaches to design individualized training programs to maximize effects.