Junior Basketball Players Research Articles

ASCERTAINING STUDY ON SOMATIC, MOTOR AND TECHNICAL ASSESSMENTS IN JUNIOR BASKETBALL TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC STANDARDS

Basketball is a sport with predominantly aerobic requirements and high-intensity anaerobic requirements. In recent years, this characteristic has changed in terms of demands on the player and intensity of the competition, involving an increase in the number and duration of explosive actions. The purpose of this paper was to determine the motor, somatic and technical levels of U14 players in order to make up the expanded junior team of Romania. To identify the values specific to the age of 14, three trials were organised over the course of a year. As a result, 49 athletes from all over the country were selected and tested, and then they followed centralised training sessions within the expanded national junior team of Romania. The somatic and motor test battery consisted of: body weight (kg), body height (cm), body mass index (BMI), arm span, 10 m sprint, 20 m sprint, 3 x 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, vertical jump, t-Test, Beep Test, Little Marathon, hip mobility, and universal throw. The research methods used in this paper were: literature review, observation, mathematical statistics, tabular method and graphical method. The research results were compared with international values. In conclusion, the current somatic and motor potential of junior basketball players does not fit into the models developed at a national and international level, given that their performance was poorer, therefore our hypothesis is not validated.

Improving the Jump Shots of U12 Junior Basketball Players by Implementing a Combined Program of Plyometric and Coordination Exercises Using MyVert Technology.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the implementation of an experimental program with combined plyometric and coordination exercises for a time interval of 6 months aimed at improving the jump shots of U12 junior players through the use of information technologies. One hundred seventeen female basketball players, aged between 10 and 12 years (U12), participated in this study. The study subjects were divided into two groups: the experimental group (EG), with 60 (51.3%) subjects, and the control group (CG), with 57 subjects (48.7%). The 6-month experiment program implemented in the experimental group included exercises that combined coordination exercises with plyometric exercises in the execution of throwing skills and skills specific to the basketball game by using the MyVert portable smart sensor. This study included an initial test and a final test, in which three motor tests adapted to the specifics of the basketball game were applied in order to evaluate jump shots: a throw-after-step test, a standing shot test and a shot-after-dribbling test. Only the results of the experimental group showed statistically significant progress (p < 0.05) between the final and initial testing in all three motor tests for the following parameters: maximum jump height (cm), average jump height (cm), power (watts/kg) and successful shots (no). The gains of the control group were not statistically significant in any test. It should be noted that the number of throws scored in the basket of the experimental group increased significantly, a fact highlighted by the very large size of Cohen's value > 3 in all the tests of this study. The results of the experimental group as a result of the implementation of the experimental training program using MyVert technology were superior to the results of the control group. The practical implications of the present study will contribute to the optimization of the athletes' training methodology in order to improve the physical and technical levels in relation to the peculiarities of age and training level.

Study on the Impact of Implementing an Exercise Program Using Fitlight Technology for the Development of Upper Limb Coordinative Abilities in Basketball Players.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing a basketball-specific exercise program using Fitlight technology on the coordinative abilities (reactive coordination, reactive reaction time, and reactive movement combination capacity) of U14 and U16 junior basketball players. This study included 70 male basketball players, 36 subjects U14 and 34 subjects U16, divided into two equal groups for each age category: the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). This study included an initial and a final test, between which, training was conducted over a period of 18 weeks. For the EG, the program aimed to develop coordinative abilities through an experimental program that utilized Fitlight technology, while the control groups underwent an identically timed program, but their training did not include the use of technology. Four tests were adapted and applied: the Reactive Reaction Test, Choice Reactive Reaction Test, Reactive Hand-Eye Coordination Test, and a test to evaluate the reactive capacity for combining movements. The results of this study showed statistically significant progress between the initial and final tests for the experimental group, p < 0.05. The Cohen's d values for the experimental groups were above 0.8, indicating a very large effect size, while for the control group, these values were small to medium. The comparative analysis of the experimental groups U14 and U16 and control groups shows statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental groups U14 and U16. This study highlights the effectiveness of implementing specific training programs that use modern technologies in developing coordinative abilities in the training and evaluation process of junior basketball players.

Defining the Quantitative Criteria for Two Basketball Shooting Techniques

For basketball technique elements to become stable and automated, the technique must be executed correctly from the initial stages of the learning process. The jump shot is considered the most crucial shooting action, equally effective in various on-court situations. Ideal techniques may not unconditionally be the best for every player because they differ in motor and morphological characteristics. One of the shooting methods is shot with one hand from the spot, which, in terms of complexity and required motor abilities, is at a lower level of demand when compared to the jump shot. The first aim of this research is to define the kinematic pattern of the jump shot and the shot with one hand from the spot and determine if there are differences between them. The second aim is to establish whether there is a significant difference in the level of motor skills between the two groups. The participant sample consists of 29 junior basketball players. They were divided into two groups: G1 = players who perform the shot with one hand from the spot (N = 14); G2 = players who execute the jump shot (N = 15). MANOVA was used to determine the differences in observed kinematic parameters between the group and in the measured tests assessing motor abilities. The kinematic parameters of the upper extremities, the parameters of the basketball player’s take-off, and the angle of the ball’s impact were analyzed. It was determined that the kinematic pattern of these two shooting techniques significantly differs (F = 12.86, p = 0.00). There was a statistically significant difference between the group of participants performing the jump shot and the group performing the one-handed chest shot from the spot (F = 5.51, p = 0.00) in motor ability tests. The group that performed the jump shot showed significantly better results in three of the five measured tests (PLANK, MED_THR, POL_BACK). Shooting with one hand from the spot is a technically correct shooting method recommended to be performed until the player possesses a certain level of motor skills that enables proper execution of the jump shot.

Improving Agility and Reactive Agility in Basketball Players U14 and U16 by Implementing Fitlight Technology in the Sports Training Process

The main aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of Fitlight technology in the process of sports training and motor assessment on the improvement in agility and reactive agility of junior basketball players. The age groups studied were under-14 (U14) and under-16 (U16). This study included 70 male basketball athletes, structured in two experimental groups: U14 (18 subjects) and U16 (17 subjects); two control groups: U14 (18 subjects) and U16 (17 subjects). Arithmetic averages of the anthropometric characteristics of the subject groups: experimental group U14: height 172.89 cm, weight 58.22 kg, BMI 19.56; control group U14: height 165.44 cm, weight 50.17 kg, BMI 18.53; experimental group U16: height 179.94 cm, weight 70.82 kg, BMI 20.35; control group U16: height 183.88 cm, weight 73.41 kg, BMI 20.83. An 18-week experimental program that integrates Fitlight technology in order to develop coordination and agility skills and corrective agility was implemented in the experimental groups. This study included six tests: T agility test, T agility test with ball, reactive T agility test, reactive T agility test with ball, Illinois agility test, and Illinois agility test with ball. The results of this study showed statistically significant progress between the initial and final testing for the experimental group, p &lt; 0.05. The Cohen’s values of the experimental groups were above 0.8, which denotes a large effect size; for the control group, these sizes were small and medium. The comparative analysis of the experimental and control groups, U14 and U16, highlights significant statistical differences in favor of the experimental groups, for all the agility tests of this study. This study highlights the effectiveness of incorporating advanced training tools like Fitlight in sports training, particularly for young basketball players. This approach surpasses traditional methods in enhancing agility, suggesting a paradigm shift towards technology-integrated training in sports.

Anthropometric measurements and their relationship with technical skills and physical performance in junior basketball players

Anthropometric features can influence physical performance in pre-adolescent basketballers. On rare occasions, scientific literature has assessed anthropometric changes in performance for this age group. The study aimed to identify the relation between body measurements and skilled-body performance in junior basketballers. The study sample consisted of 60 players from basketball academies in the United Arab Emirates for the sports season 2020-2021. The average age was 14-16 years, with height ranging from 160 to 170 cm. Anthropometric measurements included body mass, length (total/upper/lower body, arm/leg), circumferences (chest/ humeral/ calf circumferences), and shoulder width. Skilled-body performance tests included front shot/ side shot/ free throw/ wall scrolling/ ballrunning test, and vertical jump. Equipment used included an electronic balance for weight (in kilograms) and a measuring tape (in centimetres). After collecting the data, using the SPSS statistical program, and the Person correlation for different length, width, and circumferences measurements, results indicated that there were statistically significant links between front, side, and free throw shot with body measurements. Also, the study found a relationship between wall scrolling and ball running speed tests, and measurements of mass, upper body/ arm length, chest/ calf circumferences, and shoulder width. Anthropometric measurements were very important for skills and body tests. In conclusion, anthropometric traits were found to significantly contribute to the skills and performance of preadolescence players. Trainers are recommended to consider these traits when selecting junior basketball players. It is also recommended that similar studies be conducted with different age groups and genders to compare and generalize the results to basketball union.

Comparing Situational and Motor Abilities Among Kosovo Junior Basketball Players in Super and Unique Leagues

Study purpose. The aim of this study is to differentiate the situational and motor abilities between two leagues of junior basketball players in Kosovo. A total of 120 players, aged 18, were assessed in this research, with 60 players belonging to the Super League and the remaining 60 players from the Unique League. Materials and methods. In this research, the measuring instruments employed included a set of 12 basic motor variables and 5 situational motor variables. To ensure precise speed and agility data, electronic sensors in the form of Witty timer (Microgate) were utilized. The statistical analyses conducted involved the application of the t-test to identify significant differences between the leagues for individual variables, while the canonical discriminant analysis was employed to differentiate between the two leagues based on the comprehensive set of measured variables. Results. Differences were observed in specific variables, favoring the Super League players in areas such as abdominal muscles endurance (p &lt; 0.05) and throwing the medicine ball (p &lt; 0.01), while the Unique League players excelled in jump height and agility tests. T-test and discriminant analysis confirmed significant distinctions between the leagues (p &lt; 0.01). These findings provide valuable insights into the contrasting abilities of players in the two leagues. Conclusions. This study found significant differences between the Super League and Unique League among U18 basketball players in Kosovo. The Super League players showed superior performance in explosive upper body strength, repetitive strength, and agility, while the Unique League players displayed higher physical preparedness in basic motor skills.

Online learning basketball using social media to enhance learners' performance of some fundamental skills.

Online learning is the newest and most popular form of distance education today; within the past decade it has had a major impact on education. The aim of the present study was to know the effect of online learning basketball using social media on learners' performance of some fundamental skills in basketball and determine difference between online learning and in-person learning, knowing which one is better than the other. The present experimental study was conducted in Sports Academy for Basketball in Zagazig-Egypt during March-April 2022. Thirty two female junior basketball players volunteered to participate in the study from Sports Academy for Basketball (age: 16.23 ± 0.66 years; body height: 164.5 ± 3.32 cm; body mass: 65.25 ± 3.22 kg). They were divided into two equally sized experimental groups, online learning (ONL) group (n = 16) and in-person learning (INL) group (n = 16), to perform (15) educational sessions for (5) weeks, (3) sessions per week, and the session time was 90 minutes. Junior basketball players were assessed before and after five-week training period. Data were collected by Basketball Passing test, Dribbling Skill test, Lay Up Shoot test, Speed Spot Shooting, and Free-Throw Shooting test. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software using the descriptive statistical test. The level of significance was set at P ≤0.05. The results showed that the two groups made significant improvements in all variables but INL group had significantly greater improvements than ONL group. The percentage of improvement ranged from 13% to 223% for INL group versus 8% to 158% for ONL group. We conclude that in-person basketball learning was better than online learning basketball. Therefore, teachers and trainers must rely primarily on in-person learning and not rely on distance learning, especially with regard to learning motor skills, except in emergency cases.

The effect of (TABATA) exercises on some motor abilities and the performance level of the tapping skill for junior basketball players.

تجلت اهمية في تطبيق تمرينات تاباتا (TABATA) إحدى طرق التدريب المتقطع عالي الشدة (HIIT) المقترحة تستند على اداء شدد تدريبية تعتمد على القيام بتمارين كثيفة وسريعة ومتكررة بزمن قصير وأخذ فواصل زمنية سريعة للراحة بين هذه التمارين و لها تأثيرات فعالة على نظام القدرات الحركية ومستوى اداء مهارة الطبطبة وقد أستخدم الباحث المنهج التجريبي للمجموعة التجريبية الواحدة على عينة (7) لاعب من فريق تربية الكرخ 2 تم اختيار عينة البحث بالطريقة العشوائية وقام الباحث باجراء الاختبارات القبلية وهي اختبار القدرات الحركية ومستوى اداء مهارة الطبطبة وبعد ها بتطبيق تمارين تاباتا (TABATA) المقترحة لمدة ( 8) اسابيع بواقع وحدتين في الاسبوع وجمع النتائج توصل الباحث إلى الاستنتاجات الآتية: ان اعتماد تمارين (TABATA) تعمل على تطوير بعض القدرات الحركية ومهارة الطبطبة لدى لاعبي كرة السلة للناشئين واوصى الباحث بضرورة تعميم هذه النوعية من التمارين

DIFFERENCES IN ACCURACY OF PASSING THE BALL IN YOUNG BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COMPETITION

This research determined the differences in accuracy between junior basketball players at the federal and regional competition level. In this research, the following four tests were used to assess precision: Elevation precision of passing with one hand; Elevation precision of passing with two hands; Shooting a ball that bounces after falling from a height of 3.05 meters directly into the target; Shooting a ball that bounces after falling from a height of 3.05 meters with a mandatory bounce from the ground. No statistically significant differences in accuracy were found between basketball players of the federal and regional level of competition, so hypothesis X1 cannot be accepted.The conclusions reached based on the discussion of the results indicate that the accuracy of passing the ball is not one of the factors that contributes to the difference in quality between basketball players in the junior age who compete in different ranks of the competition. Also, good systematic work in the clubs and good orientation and selection of basketball players in the tested clubs contribute to the quality development of motor skills in general, which do not contribute to differences in basketball players of different levels of competition in younger selections. In further work, it is necessary to further investigate precision as one of the least researched fields of motor skills.

Efficiency of Strength Development trough Specific Aquatic Means for Junior Basketball Players

U15 basketball juniors are at puberty, during this period there are psycho-physiological transformations with profound repercussions in&#x0D; terms of their physical constitution. In the training of junior basketball players at this stage, in addition to learning the correct technical and tactical procedures and improving motor skills, it is recommended by specialists to emphasize a harmonious physical development, a good functioning of the body with special attention to posture and functional disorders that may occur during this period. The study aims to implement a program of exercises specific to aquatic activities adapted to the particularities of U15 junior basketball players and to find out the effects produced on the increase of physical strength for these athletes.

SPORTS INJURY SURVEY ON BASKETBALL BRANCH ATHLETES IN UNIT KEGIATAN MAHASISWA STKIP PGRI JOMBANG BASKETBALL CLUB

This study aims to identify the types of sports injuries for basketball players in UKMSTKIPPGRI John Bang. The survey method is a descriptive method using the survey method. The subjects of this survey were UKM STKIP PGRI Jombang junior basketball players, totaling 35 people, and the survey sample consisted of 21 people with sampling criteria. The location of the survey was conducted at STKIPP GRI John Van's GOR Basketball Club. The survey tool used to collect the data in this survey was a written exam, and interviews and observations of the survey results were presented in tabular form. We collected data using a question-based interview test to get an idea of ​​the results of the survey. Based on data analysis, the results show that the types of injuries most often received by UKM STKIP PGRI Jombang junior athletes in basketball sports are knee injuries, ankle injuries (ankle) shoulder injuries, and up to 21 samples. Showed that they had 100% of these injuries, shoulder injuries 95.2%, hamstring injuries 18 cases, wrist injuries 85.7 cases 61.9%, elbow injuries 13 cases 57.1%, waist injuries 8 cases 38.1-6 finger injuries, 28.6%, heel injuries 5 cases, 23.8%.

The Influence of Maximum Strength Performance in Seated Calf Raises on Counter Movement Jump and Squat Jump in Elite Junior Basketball Players

In basketball high intensity jumping and sprinting performance is of high importance. There seems to be a relationship between maximal strength (MSt) and jumping performance in general, but influence of MSt in the plantar flexors and jumping performance seems not to be investigated very well. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of MSt in the plantar flexors on jumping performance. 37 young elite basketball players were included (age: 13.9±1.8 years; weight: 66.4±16.8 kg; height: 179.21±13.24 cm) and countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) height as well as unilateral and bilateral maximal isometric contraction in the plantar flexors with bended knee joint were assessed. Pearson correlations were calculated for MSt and jumping performance and Bland-Altman Analysis was performed to determine the level of variance between bilateral MSt assessment and cumulated MSt value of unilateral measurements. This study shows a moderate influence of isometric MSt in the calf muscle on jumping performance, so it seems beneficial to include the training of the plantar flexors in the training routine of basketball players. When determining MSt, the bilateral force deficit must be considered, even though there was no influence on determined correlations.

Physical Persistency across Game Quarters and during Consecutive Games in Elite Junior Basketball Players.

Given the intermittent nature of basketball and the different demands that occur during playing time that are specific to every level of competition, the ratio of accelerations/decelerations and the intensity level across quarters were evaluated in female elite junior basketball players (n = 48; age: 16.8 ± 0.7 years; height: 1.76 ± 0.07 cm; body mass: 67.2 ± 6.2 kg). The following variables were analyzed to determine physical persistency across game quarters:(a) total distance covered (m), (b) high-intensity running (HIR) (14–21 km·h−1) distance covered (m), (c) sprint (21–30 km·h−1) distance covered (m), (d) total accelerations (n), (e) total decelerations (n), (f) relative accelerations (n·min−1), (g) relative decelerations (n·min−1), (h) ratio of acceleration/deceleration (A/D), (i) total jumps (j) relative jumps (n·min−1) (k) player load (AU). using the WIMU PRO® system. Higher but shorter acceleration intensity occurred during the last quarters due to the tight results of the matches. The results suggest that high-intensity efforts such as sprints and HIR seem to increase the A/D ratio (guard and forward positions). Therefore, specific conditioning, as well as eccentric strength training, could be included by practitioners in training programs to improve the performance of these positions during competition, especially as a prior preparation to a game-congested event. Centers seem to have a more variable performance through quarters than do other positions, perhaps highlighting the need for specific conditioning strategies.

Anaerobic capacity assessment of junior basketball players after the pandemic lockdown in Romania

In the context of the pandemic period, basketball competitions have undergone changes in their organisational structure, so playing games in the form of a “bubble” tournament required adequate training. Due to the rapid pace of play during the “bubble” competitions, junior basketball players need to have very good anaerobic and aerobic capacity. Intensification of the competitive effort by increasing the speed of movement and execution, making fast breaks, performing bouncing passes and throws to the basket, fighting to recover the ball and using the active defence (pressing) all over the court imposes high demands on the body at the somatic and vegetative levels. The purpose of the present study is to assess the anaerobic capacity of junior players (U16) in the pre-competitive period, given that their training was interrupted between March and September 2020 by the legislative norms on sports activity due to the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. The ascertaining study was conducted in January 2021 on the CSU Știința Bucharest team players aged 15-16 years. The tests applied to assess their anaerobic capacity consisted of Countermovement Jump (CMJ) and acceleration speed (5 m, 10 m and 15 m). The data were collected using the computerised Optojump and Tag Heurer - Chronoprinter 520 techniques.

Expression of Sport Experiences between Cadet and Junior Basketball Players

Background. The hypothesis of this study is formulated as follows: the experience of junior basketball players in competitions will be more valuable than that of cadet basketball players. The aim of our study was to examine the peculiarities of youth and basketball players’ sport experiences.&#x0D; Methods. A total of 104 basketball players, 47 cadets and 57 juniors participated in the study. Survey questionnaire is used for the study. The following methodologies were used: Athlete’s Personal Experience Survey (Athletic Coping Skills Inventory, ACSI-28) and the Sport Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ).&#x0D; Results. The results of the study revealed statistically significant differences (p &lt;.05) in personal sport experiences (athletic endurance skills) among basketball players of different age groups according to the following indicators: the coach’s influence on basketball players, concentration, athletes’ self-confidence and resilience. The results of the study of athletes’ competitive experiences revealed that there were statistically significant differences (p &lt;.05) between cadet and junior basketball players in competition experience. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of risk and progress parameters.&#x0D; Conclusions. The coach’s influence was greater for the cadet basketball players. Concentration, self-confidence and resilience were better among junior basketball players. This shows that when competing, junior basketball players have higher levels of concentration compared to the cadet group, as they are more confident and can better cope with tension. In addition, it was found that the experience of junior basketball players in competitions is richer than that of cadet basketball players.&#x0D; Keywords: sport experience, junior, cadet, basketball players, basketball.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF CHANGE-OF-DIRECTION SPEED TESTS FOR JUNIOR BASKETBALL PLAYERS

The main goal of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of change-of-direction speed (CODS) tests for junior basketball players and to test the differences between the positions of players on the team. On a sample of 66 junior basketball players (18.2±3.18 years), the CODS was tested using the following tests: the Lane Agility Test (LAT), Zigzag Agility Test (ZAT), Agility T-test and Modified Agility T-test. Body height and body mass were used as control variables. α-Cronbach's coefficient was calculated to determine the reliability and internal consistency of the measurements, as well as the average correlation between the trials of each test. The difference between groups of players was tested by MANCOVA. CODS tests showed good to high reliability (interclass correlations ranged from 0.83-0.93 with a variability of 4.4% to 6.4% for the entire sample). The first principal component was determined, which included 83% of the total variance of the analyzed variables. Very high coefficients of internal validity of all the applied tests (0.93-0.98) were obtained on the common subject of defined measurements. Significant differences were found between groups of players by position in favor of outside players (guards) on two tests LAT and ZAT (F=18.023; 8.559 and p≤0.005) with control of the influence of body height and body mass. All tests can be rated as reliable and valid for junior basketball players. LAT proved to be the most suitable for assessing the CODS in young basketball players, with the best discrimination of players by position on the team.

Greater Power but Not Strength Gains Using Flywheel Versus Equivolumed Traditional Strength Training in Junior Basketball Players.

The main aim of the present study was to compare the effects of flywheel strength training and traditional strength training on fitness attributes. Thirty-six well trained junior basketball players (n = 36; 17.58 ± 0.50 years) were recruited and randomly allocated into: Flywheel group (FST; n = 12), traditional strength training group (TST; n = 12) and control group (CON; n = 12). All groups attended 5 basketball practices and one official match a week during the study period. Experimental groups additionally participated in the eight-week, 1–2 d/w equivolume intervention conducted using a flywheel device (inertia = 0.075 kg·m−2) for FST or free weights (80%1 RM) for TST. Pre-to post changes in lower limb isometric strength (ISOMET), 5 and 20 m sprint time (SPR5m and SPR20m), countermovement jump height (CMJ) and change of direction ability (t-test) were assessed with analyses of variance (3 × 2 ANOVA). Significant group-by-time interaction was found for ISOMET (F = 6.40; p = 0.000), CMJ (F = 7.45; p = 0.001), SPR5m (F = 7.45; p = 0.010) and T test (F = 10.46; p = 0.000). The results showed a significantly higher improvement in CMJ (p = 0.006; 11.7% vs. 6.8%), SPR5m (p = 0.001; 10.3% vs. 5.9%) and t-test (p = 0.045; 2.4% vs. 1.5%) for FST compared to the TST group. Simultaneously, th FST group had higher improvement in ISOMET (p = 0.014; 18.7% vs. 2.9%), CMJ (p = 0.000; 11.7% vs. 0.3%), SPR5m (p = 0.000; 10.3% vs. 3.4%) and t-test (p = 0.000; 2.4% vs. 0.6%) compared to the CON group. Players from the TST group showed better results in CMJ (p = 0.006; 6.8% vs. 0.3%) and t-test (p = 0.018; 1.5% vs. 0.6%) compared to players from the CON group. No significant group-by-time interaction was found for sprint 20 m (F = 2.52; p = 0.088). Eight weeks of flywheel training (1–2 sessions per week) performed at maximum concentric intensity induces superior improvements in CMJ, 5 m sprint time and change of direction ability than equivolumed traditional weight training in well trained junior basketball players. Accordingly, coaches and trainers could be advised to use flywheel training for developing power related performance attributes in young basketball players.

Study on the Role and Benefits of Using Water Exercises in the Training of Junior Basketball Players

The current basketball game requires a multilateral and specific physical training at a higher level, adapted to the particularities of the age. It is known that the aquatic environment offers a number of opportunities due to the properties of water. The innovative use of water resistance and buoyancy to practice various sports activities with low impact on the body and addressing the relationship between physical training on land and aquatic activities are aspects that want to be investigated in this paper. The purpose of the study is to analyze the opinions of coaches and the specialists on the role and benefits of using water exercises in the training of junior basketball players II. The questionnaire-type survey, applied to the 54 coaches, was used in order to be able to obtain in a short time a large volume of information related to the opportunity of introducing aquatic means in the training of basketball juniors.

Elbow Extensors and Volar Flexors Strength Capacity and Its Relation to Shooting Performance in Basketball Players—A Pilot Study

Rate of force/torque development scaling factor (RFD-SF/RTD-SF) has been used as a tool for assessing neuromuscular quickness. The aim was to investigate strength capacities of two major shooting muscle groups and their relationship to basketball shooting performance, and to compare the RFD-SF as well as shooting performance between junior and senior basketball players, and finally to examine the differences in RTD-SF between elbow extensors and volar flexors. In 23 male basketball players (13 juniors and 10 seniors) we assessed maximal isometric torque (TMVC), maximal rate of torque development and RTD-SF slope (kRTD-SF) for elbow extensors and volar flexors. The subjects performed 10 throws at 2.3 m (short) and 8.9 m (long) from the basket. Our results showed similar kRTD-SF and TMVC in both groups. Better shooting performance from short distance was observed in senior players. Significant associations between kRTD-SF, TMVC and shooting performance were found only in juniors. Elbow extensors TMVC was found to have a significant positive large association with shooting performance from long distance. It seems that muscle capacity has an important role in shooting performance in junior compared to players. Sufficient strength capacity of major shooting muscles is important for juniors’ shooting performance from a long distance.