Characterization and Sex-Related Differences in the Multi-Location External Workload Profile of Semiprofessional Basketball Players. A Cross-Sectional Study

Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics Underpinning Change of Direction Performance in Basketball: A Comparative Study Between Sexes and Tests

ABSTRACT

Baena-Raya, A, Díez-Fernández, DM, Martínez-Rubio, C, Conceição, F, and López-Sagarra, A. Kinetic and kinematic characteristics underpinning change of direction performance in basketball: A comparative study between sexes and tests. J Strength Cond Res 38(4): e182-e188, 2024-This study (a) evaluated the sex-specific kinetic and kinematic outcomes underpinning change of direction (COD) performance, (b) compared these outcomes across 3 different COD tests, and (c) examined the sex-specific and test-specific outcome most strongly related to COD performance in basketball players. Thirty young basketball players (17 males and 13 females) competing at the national level were assessed for the modified 505 test, modified T test, and V-cut test. The Local Positioning System technology (WIMU PRO, Realtrack Systems S.L., Almería, Spain) was used to measure the maximum values of acceleration (ACC max ), deceleration (DEC max ), velocity (VEL max ), and centripetal force (CentF max ) in each COD test. Male players displayed greater ACC max , VEL max , DEC max , and CentF max outputs for each section of the 505 test, T test, and V-cut test (all p < 0.05), resulting in a faster COD performance than females across tests (all ES > -1.42; 95% CI = -3.45 to -0.57). The 505 test demanded significantly greater kinematic outputs than T test and V-cut test for both sexes ( p < 0.01). The ACC max explained ∼26-58% of the variability in COD time for males across tests ( p < 0.05) and 40% in females' modified 505-test time ( p < 0.05). Likewise, in females, DEC max explained 38% of the modified T -test time variability, whereas VEL max explained 53% in the V-cut test time (both p < 0.05). These findings suggest that (a) COD data should not be used interchangeably across sexes, (b) test specificities should be considered for designing COD training, and (c) the kinematic outcomes explaining COD performance might vary across sexes.

Physical Fitness as a Predictor of Performance during Competition in Professional Women's Basketball Players

The evaluation of physical fitness in team sports is enjoying greater importance in the training of professional teams. The objectives of this research were to characterize physical fitness and game indicators based on the game position. This is an empirical study, with a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional methodology. In addition, different relationships between the level of physical fitness and the game indicators during the competition were determined. Finally, a predictive analysis of the selected variables was carried out in order to know the importance of the variables in the performance and at what time of the season they had the greatest impact. For this, a professional female basketball team (n = 12) with a mean age of 25.25 ± 7.617 years, height 178.25 ± 9.206 cm and a body mass of 72.33 ± 11.657 kg was analyzed. Each player was equipped with a WIMUPRO inertial device, and all competition statistics were analyzed. The results obtained show that there were no differences among all the skills evaluated and game indicators depending on the game position. Likewise, a relationship was determined between the level of physical fitness and the technical-tactical contribution, being different between different times of the season. Moreover, physical fitness only predicted the player's final performance in the competition for female player centers in the first and second rounds of the championship, and for forwards in the first round. Four physical-physiological profiles with contributions to the different ones during the competition were also determined. Finally, three groups of female players by playing position were identified according to their sport performance, namely PIR, high, medium and low ratings, associated with physical performances. In all groups, there were significant differences between playing positions, PIR and physical performances.