Physiological and Technical Demands of No Dribble Game Drill in Young Basketball Players

Impact of Playing Middle and Side Pick-and-Roll Actions With Aggressive and Containing Defensive Strategies on Workload During Small-Sided Games in Male Basketball Players

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of executing different pick-and-roll (PnR) actions and performing different defensive strategies on workloads during basketball small-sided games.

METHODS

Twelve male basketball players (age: 21 [3] y; stature: 192 [5] cm; body mass: 84 [9] kg) completed 4 randomized small-sided games including PnRs executed on 2 court positions (ie, middle and side PnR) and 2 defensive strategies (ie, aggressive [ie, trap] and containing [ie, drop and ice for middle and side PnR, respectively] strategy). PlayerLoad and number of accelerations, decelerations, and changes of direction are classified as low (<2.5 m·s-2), medium (between 2.5 and 3.5 m·s-2), and high (>3.5 m·s-2), and jumps categorized as low (<40 cm) and high (≥40 cm) were used as external-load measures, while rating of perceived exertion was used as an internal-load measure.

RESULTS

Higher PlayerLoad values were found when playing middle PnR compared with side PnR (P = .046; effect size [ES] = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.0-1.2; moderate). Furthermore, trap defense showed moderately higher values of PlayerLoad (P < .001; ES = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.5-1.7), high accelerations (P = .006; ES = 0.8; 95% CI, 0.3-1.4), medium changes of direction (P = .047; ES = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.0-1.2), and high changes of direction (P = .050; ES = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.0-1.2) compared with drop and/or ice defense. No effects of court position and defensive strategy were found in rating of perceived exertion (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

When planning small-sided games with tactical target, basketball coaches are advised to use middle PnR and aggressive defensive strategies to increase player's external load compared with side PnR and containing defensive strategies.

Effects of dribbling restrictions in small-sided games on aerobic and anaerobic fitness in youth basketball players

Introduction

Imposing constraints such as limiting dribbling in smallsided games (SSGs) is known to increase physiological and locomotor demands. However, the long-term effects on physical adaptations remain unexplored. This experimental study aimed to compare the impact of free-play SSGs (freeD) and limited-dribbling SSGs (limitedD) in SSGs on the aerobic and anaerobic adaptations of youth basketball players.

Methods

Forty-five youth basketball players (aged 15.7 ± 0.6 years, with 4.2 ± 0.7 years of experience) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (freeD and limitedD) and a control group (not exposed to SSG interventions). During the eight-week intervention, the experimental groups participated in additional SSG sessions twice a week, with session work time durations ranging from 12 to 16 min. Both experimental groups followed identical SSG formats, court dimensions, and training regimens, with the only difference being that one group participated in free play while the other group was prohibited from dribbling during progression. Aerobic capacity was assessed using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT), while the 30-second Wingate Test measured peak power output (PPO) and average power output (APO) at baseline and post-intervention. Statistical analysis was conducted using a mixed ANOVA to examine the interactions between time and group.

Results

Comparisons of YYIRT between groups at post-intervention revealed that limitedD performed significantly better than both freeD (p = 0.035; d = 1.038) and the control group (p < 0.001; d = 2.050), while freeD also showed significantly better performance (p = 0.021; d = 0.082) than the control group. Regarding PPO, limitedD was significantly better than the control group (p = 0.043; d = 0.943). Finally, for APO, limitedD was significantly better than both freeD (p = 0.043; d = 0.928) and the control group (p < 0.001; d = 1.793), while freeD also exhibited significantly better performance than the control group (p = 0.046; d = 0.036).

Conclusions

Limiting dribbling in basketball SSGs is more effective than free play. This makes it a potentially valuable strategy for designing SSGs in basketball training. Coaches may consider incorporating limited-dribbling conditions into SSGs to boost the intensity of training sessions, improve cardiovascular endurance, and enhance anaerobic power.

Inside the Defensive Playbook: Pick-and-Roll Tactical Adjustments Impact the External and Internal Loads During Small-Sided Games in Female Basketball Players

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the effect of playing different pick-and-roll (PnR) defensive tactical options during small-sided games (SSGs) on external and internal loads in female basketball players.

METHODS

Twelve female basketball players (age 28 [2] y; stature 175 [6] cm; body mass 65 [7] kg; playing experience 18 [4] y) belonging to a team competing in the Lithuanian second division were recruited for this study. Across 3 experimental sessions and in a randomized order, players performed 3 SSGs sharing the same features but using 3 defensive strategies on the middle PnR action: Switch, Trap, and Drop. External load was measured using PlayerLoad (PL); the number of accelerations, decelerations, and changes of direction, classified based on their intensities as low (<2.5 m·s-2), medium (2.5-3.5 m·s-2), and high (>3.5 m·s-2); and jumps categorized as low (<40 cm) and high (≥40 cm). Internal load was measured via rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

RESULTS

Higher PL values in SSGs including Trap defense were found compared with Drop (P < .001, ES = 0.69, moderate) and Switch (P = .001, ES = 0.60, moderate). Additionally, a higher number of accelerations was registered in Trap defense compared with Drop defense (P = .027, ES = 0.99, moderate). Trap defense also led to higher RPE compared with Switch (P = .003, ES = 1.49, large) and Drop (P = .004, ES = 1.42, large) defense.

CONCLUSIONS

Different defensive strategies on the middle PnR can influence the external and internal loads during SSGs, and female basketball coaches should consider the high demand of the Trap defense when designing SSGs.

Optimal Prescription for Superior Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of Inter-Individual Variability in Adaptations to Small-Sided Games and Short Sprint Interval Training in Young Basketball Players

This study compared the inter-individual variability in adaptive responses to six weeks of small-sided games (SSG) and short sprint interval training (sSIT) in young basketball players. Thirty well-trained young athletes (age: 16.4 ± 0.6 years; stature: 190 ± 8.4 cm; weight: 84.1 ± 8.2 kg) voluntarily participated and were randomly assigned to SSG (3 sets of 5 min 3v3 on full length (28 m) and half-width (7.5 m) court, with 2 minutes of passive recovery in-between), sSIT (3 sets of 12 × 5 s sprinting with 20 s recovery between efforts and 2 min of rest between sets), or CON (routine basketball-specific technical and tactical drills) groups, each of ten. Before and after the training period, participants underwent a series of laboratory- and field-based measurements to evaluate their maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), first and second ventilatory threshold (VT1 and VT2), oxygen pulse, peak and average power output (PPO and APO), linear speed, change of direction (COD), countermovement jump (CMJ), and vertical jump (VJ). Both SSG and sSIT sufficiently stimulated adaptive mechanisms involved in enhancement of the mentioned variables (p < 0.05). However, sSIT resulted in lower residuals in percent changes in V̇O2max (p = 0.02), O2pulse (p = 0.005), VT1 (p = 0.001), PPO (p = 0.03), and linear speed (p = 0.01) across athletes compared to the SSG. Moreover, sSIT resulted in more responders than SSG in V̇O2max (p = 0.02, φ = 0.500), O2pulse (p = 0.003, φ = 0.655), VT1 (p = 0.003, φ = 0.655), VT2 (p = 0.05, φ = 0.436), and linear speed (p = 0.05, φ = 0.420). Our results indicate that sSIT creates a more consistent level of mechanical and physiological stimulus than SSG, potentially leading to more similar adaptations across team members.

A Systematic Review on the Physical, Physiological, Perceptual, and Technical-Tactical Demands of Official 3 × 3 Basketball Games

PURPOSE

To systematically review the physical, physiological, perceptual, and technical-tactical demands of official 3 × 3 basketball games.

METHODS

The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify studies assessing physical, physiological, perceptual, and technical-tactical demands of 3 × 3 games. Data were also coded according to player sex and tournament phase. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using a modified Downs and Black checklist.

RESULTS

Thirteen articles were finally included, with a mean quality of 8.6 (1.1) out of 11. Three-by-three basketball games have an intermittent profile (1:1 work-rest ratio), with a duration of ∼15 minutes, and are characterized by short (6-8 s) ball possessions and considerable physical (17-33 accelerations, 24-44 decelerations, 62-94 changes of directions, and 17-24 jumps per game) and physiological (lactate: ∼6.2 mmol·L-1) demands. Overall, the game performance profile is similar in males and females, with minor changes happening across tournament phases. Several key technical-tactical indicators were identified as discriminating winning and losing teams, such as better shooting and defensive efficiency, low number of turnovers, and implementing tactical actions involving more players, passing first, and ending possessions with shots from outside of the arch from the top of the key.

CONCLUSIONS

Three-by-three basketball is an intermittent, physically demanding sport characterized by quick plays and specific tactical constraints. This review provides information that should be considered by performance staff to improve training prescription, game tactical plans, and for player selection and talent identification.

Acute physiological, perceived exertion and enjoyment responses during a 4-week basketball training: a small-sided game vs. high-intensity interval training

Introduction

Although previous research found that small-sided game (SSG) training was more enjoyable than high-intensity interval training (HIT) in various sports, no data were provided during longer training period in basketball. Furthermore, the comparison of internal loads between the two training approaches needs to be further examined. Thus, this study aimed to examine the acute physiological, perceived exertion and enjoyment responses during 4-week progressive basketball SSG or HIT programs.

Methods

Nineteen female collegiate basketball players were randomly assigned to two groups that performed either HIT (n = 10) or SSG (n = 9) 3 times per week for 4 continuous weeks. Average and percentage of maximal heart rate (HR_mean and %HR_max), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and physical activity enjoyment (PACES) were determined during each training session.

Results

There was a main group effect in PACES (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.44, moderate), and SSG had higher PACES than HIT in each week (p < 0.05). There were no significant interactions or main group effects in HR_mean, %HR_max or RPE, but a main time effect was found in HR_mean (p = 0.004; ηp2 = 0.16, minimum), %HR_max (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.25, minimum), and RPE (p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.31, moderate), respectively. In the SSG group, although no significant differences were found in HR responses, %HR_max was below 90% in week 1 and week 2. Accompanied with changes in %HR_max, RPE in week 1 and week 2 was lower than that in week 3 and week 4 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that SSG and HIT elicit similar acute HR response and RPE level, but SSG is perceived as more enjoyable and therefore it is more likely to increase exercise motivation and adherence comparing to HIT. Moreover, it seems that half-court, 2 vs. 2 SS Gtraining format with modified rules and lasting ≥ 7.5 min should be prescribed as an enjoyable training alternative to provide optimal cardiovascular stimuli (> 90% of HR_max) for female basketball players.

Time Constraint Increases Mental Load and Influences in the Performance in Small-Sided Games in Basketball

Purpose: In team sports like basketball, small-sided games have received much scientific attention because of their capacity to simulate competitive environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of different task constraints on mental load, and its consequences for individual and team performance in basketball small-sided games. Method: Twenty-four university students voluntarily took part in this study (M_age = 20.81 years [± 1.76]). Four different 3 × 3 basketball games were played: (A) free game, (B) seven seconds possession, (C) three passes maximum per attack phase, (D) conditions B and C combined. Results: Statistical analysis showed that constraints B, C and D produce more mental load, provoke differences in the affect response and the performance is worse. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the mental cost of restricting the time and number of passes, separately and combined to decide and act.

Determinants of Dribbling and Passing Skills in Competitive Games of Women's Basketball

This work aimed to identify the influence of selected endogenous (internal load) and exogenous (possession duration, game quarter, and defensive pressure) factors in natural game conditions on the efficiency of dribbling and passing skills. Dribbling and passing skills were assessed during four games of U19 female basketball players and five games of senior (2nd division) female basketball players. In total, 551 dribbling and 914 passing executions were evaluated. Binary logistic regression identified defensive pressure of the opponent as a predictor of dribbling and passing skills effectivity. When the defensive pressure of the opponent was medium, the chances for the ineffective pass were 1.997 times more likely (95% CI; 1.179-3.383), as it is at the minimum defensive pressure. When the defensive pressure of the opponent was high, the chances for ineffective dribbling were 7.45 times more likely (95% CI; 3.672-15.113) and for ineffective pass were 8.419 times more likely (95% CI; 4.6-15.409), as it is at minimum defensive pressure. The game quarter and the internal load were not identified as the predictors influencing the dribbling and passing effectivity. Possession duration was also an insignificant predictor of dribbling and passing skills effectivity. However, the passing skill effectivity decreases when the shot clock is winding down. These findings confirm the importance of transferring game situations into the training process. Coaches should take into account these factors when they want to stimulate determinants of player performance in a balanced and systematic way.

Call to Action: Recommendations to Improve the Methodological Reporting of Games-Based Drills in Basketball Research

PURPOSE

Games-based drills are the predominant form of training adopted during basketball practice. As such, researchers have begun to quantify the physical, physiological, and perceptual demands of different games-based drill formats. However, study methodology has not been systematically reported across studies, limiting the ability to form conclusions from existing research. The authors developed this call to action to draw attention to the current standard of methodological reporting in basketball games-based drill research and establish a systematic reporting standard the authors hope will be utilized in future research. The Basketball Games-Based Drill Methodical Reporting Checklist (BGBDMRC) was developed to encourage the systematic reporting of games-based drill methodology. The authors used the BGBDMRC to evaluate the current methodological reporting standard of studies included in their review published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, "A Systematic Review of the External and Internal Workloads Experienced During Games-Based Drills in Basketball Players" (2020), which highlighted this issue. Of the 17 studies included in their review, only 38% (±18%) of applicable checklist items were addressed across included studies, which is problematic as checklist items are essential for study replication.

CONCLUSIONS

The current standard of methodological reporting in basketball games-based drill research is insufficient to allow for replication of examined drills in future research or the application of research outcomes to practice. The authors implore researchers to adopt the BGBDMRC to improve the quality and reproducibility of games-based drill research and increase the translation of research findings to practice.

Measuring Physical Demands in Basketball: An Explorative Systematic Review of Practices

BACKGROUND

Measuring the physical work and resultant acute psychobiological responses of basketball can help to better understand and inform physical preparation models and improve overall athlete health and performance. Recent advancements in training load monitoring solutions have coincided with increases in the literature describing the physical demands of basketball, but there are currently no reviews that summarize all the available basketball research. Additionally, a thorough appraisal of the load monitoring methodologies and measures used in basketball is lacking in the current literature. This type of critical analysis would allow for consistent comparison between studies to better understand physical demands across the sport.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this systematic review was to assess and critically evaluate the methods and technologies used for monitoring physical demands in competitive basketball athletes. We used the term 'training load' to encompass the physical demands of both training and game activities, with the latter assumed to provide a training stimulus as well. This review aimed to critique methodological inconsistencies, establish operational definitions specific to the sport, and make recommendations for basketball training load monitoring practice and reporting within the literature.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed using EBSCO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science to identify studies through March 2020. Electronic databases were searched using terms related to basketball and training load. Records were included if they used a competitive basketball population and incorporated a measure of training load. This systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO Registration # CRD42019123603), and approved under the National Basketball Association (NBA) Health Related Research Policy.

RESULTS

Electronic and manual searches identified 122 papers that met the inclusion criteria. These studies reported the physical demands of basketball during training (n = 56), competition (n = 36), and both training and competition (n = 30). Physical demands were quantified with a measure of internal training load (n = 52), external training load (n = 29), or both internal and external measures (n = 41). These studies examined males (n = 76), females (n = 34), both male and female (n = 9), and a combination of youth (i.e. under 18 years, n = 37), adults (i.e. 18 years or older, n = 77), and both adults and youth (n = 4). Inconsistencies related to the reporting of competition level, methodology for recording duration, participant inclusion criteria, and validity of measurement systems were identified as key factors relating to the reporting of physical demands in basketball and summarized for each study.

CONCLUSIONS

This review comprehensively evaluated the current body of literature related to training load monitoring in basketball. Within this literature, there is a clear lack of alignment in applied practices and methodological framework, and with only small data sets and short study periods available at this time, it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions about the true physical demands of basketball. A detailed understanding of modern technologies in basketball is also lacking, and we provide specific guidelines for defining and applying duration measurement methodologies, vetting the validity and reliability of measurement tools, and classifying competition level in basketball to address some of the identified knowledge gaps. Creating alignment in best-practice basketball research methodology, terminology and reporting may lead to a more robust understanding of the physical demands associated with the sport, thereby allowing for exploration of other research areas (e.g. injury, performance), and improved understanding and decision making in applying these methods directly with basketball athletes.

Want to Impact Physical, Technical, and Tactical Performance during Basketball Small-Sided Games in Youth Athletes? Try Differential Learning Beforehand

This study aimed to analyze the acute effect of small-sided games, based on differential learning, on the physical, technical, and positioning performance of young basketball players. Eight basketball players under 13 (U13) participated in this study. A total of eight sessions involving half-court small-sided games (4 sets × 3 min + 1 min of passive recovery) under randomly different numerical relations were performed. Before each trial, players were verbally instructed to perform the drill in one of the conditions, in random order. Pre- and post-tests were performed in the 4v4 half-court format, in each session. External load and positional data were collected via a WIMU PRO local positioning system. Individual heart rate monitoring was used to assess the internal load. Game videos also collected notational data. The results revealed that, after the intervention, the players significantly decreased the total distance covered, the peak acceleration, average speed, training impulse, and the spatial exploration index; conversely, the results confirmed an increase in the number of dribbles. Small-sided games under randomly different numerical relations imposed acute effects in distinct variables during 4v4 half-court games. However, further studies are warranted, including longer interventions and parallel-group designs, to confirm if the training-induced effects of this method are significantly better compared to other approaches.

Combined Effect of Number of Players and Dribbling on Game-Based-Drill Demands in Basketball

PURPOSE

To examine the physiological, physical, and technical demands of game-based drills (GBDs) with regular dribble (RD) or no dribble (ND) involving a different number of players (3 vs 3, 4 vs 4, and 5 vs 5).

METHODS

Ten regional-level male basketball players performed 6 full-court GBD formats (each consisting of 3 bouts of 4 min and 2 min rest) on multiple occasions. The physiological and perceptual responses were measured through heart rate and rating of perceived exertion. Video-based time-motion analysis was performed to assess the GBD physical demands. The frequencies of occurrence and the duration were calculated for high-intensity, moderate-intensity, low-intensity, and recovery activities. Technical demands were assessed with a notional-analysis technique. A 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess statistical differences between GBD formats.

RESULTS

A greater perceptual response (rating of perceived exertion) was recorded during 3 versus 3 than 5 versus 5 formats (P = .005). Significant interactions were observed for the number of recovery (P = .021), low-intensity activity (P = .007), and all movements (P = .001) completed. Greater time was spent performing low-intensity and high-intensity activities during RD than ND format. Greater technical demands were observed for several variables during 3 versus 3 than 4 versus 4 or 5 versus 5. A greater number of turnovers (P = .027), total (P ≤ .001), and correct passes (P ≤ .001) were recorded during ND than RD format.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of players predominantly affected the perceptual response to GBD, while both the number of players and rule modification (RD vs ND) affected activities performed during GBD. Reducing the number of players increases the GBD technical elements, while ND format promotes a greater number of turnovers and passes.

Physical and physiological demands of basketball small-sided games: the influence of defensive and time pressures

Different small-sided games (SSG) can be used by coaches to induce specific demands on athletes during team sports training. In basketball, defensive and time pressures are common stressors experienced by players during official matches. However, no studies have investigated the effect of changing these variables in SSG during training. We compared the physical and physiological demands of three basketball SSG performed in a half court with two hoops: 3vs3 with man-to-man defence in the half playing area, 3vs3 with man-to-man defence in the full playing area, and 3vs3 with a reduced shot-clock (3vs3HALF, 3vs3FULL, 3vs3RT, respectively). Twelve male U-17 basketball athletes formed four balanced teams. Each team played the three SSG against each other in a random order, totalling 18 SSG. During the SSG, the players wore triaxial accelerometers and heart rate monitors. SSG were filmed to record the players’ motor actions. The results showed that 3vs3FULL (p=0.004, d=0.42, small-to-moderate effect) and 3vs3RT (p=0.026, d=0.33, small-to-moderate effect) increased the time spent in higher acceleration zones compared to 3vs3HALF. Both 3vs3FULL and 3vs3RT presented more transition sprints compared to 3vs3HALF. The 3vs3FULL also presented more fakes and the 3vs3RT presented more jumps compared to the 3vs3HALF. Physiological responses presented no differences between the SSG formats. In conclusion, defensive and time pressures increase the physical demand in 3vs3 SSG performed in the half court. The three SSG investigated in this study presented mean heart rate values close to 90% of the maximum heart rate, which suggests that these SSG may be used to increase athletes’ aerobic performance.

A Systematic Review of the External and Internal Workloads Experienced During Games-Based Drills in Basketball Players

PURPOSE

To systematically quantify the external and internal workloads reported during games-based drills in basketball and identify the effects of different modifiable factors on the workloads encountered.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for original research published up until January 2, 2019. The search included terms relevant to workload, games-based drills, and basketball. Studies were screened using predefined selection criteria, and methodological quality was assessed prior to data extraction.

RESULTS

The electronic search yielded 8,284 studies with 3,411 duplicates. A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, with quality scores ranging from 9 to 10 out of 11. Factors regularly modified during games-based drills among the included studies were team size, playing area, playing and rest time, and game alterations. Games-based drills containing smaller team sizes elicited greater external and internal workloads compared to larger team sizes. Furthermore, full-court games-based drills elicited greater external and internal workloads compared to half-court drills, while continuous games-based drills elicited greater internal workloads compared to intermittent drills.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides a comprehensive collation of data indicating the external and internal workloads reported during different games-based drills in various samples of basketball players. Furthermore, evidence is provided for basketball coaches to consider when prescribing games-based drills and modifying factors during drills across the season. Current literature suggests that smaller team sizes and full-court playing areas elicit greater external and internal workloads than larger team sizes and half-court drills, respectively. Furthermore, continuous games-based drills elicit greater internal workloads than intermittent drills.

Small-Sided Games as a Methodological Resource for Team Sports Teaching: A Systematic Review

New models for teaching sports have arisen in the last years, characterised by the use of more contextualised situations, modified games, tactical awareness, transference of technical-tactical learning and different teaching progression, among other aspects. In this regard, small-sided games must be highlighted, due to their ability to integrate physical fitness, technique and tactical behaviour stimuli in similar conditions to the real game. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to analyse and describe the methodological possibilities that SSGs can provide regarding the teaching of technical-tactical aspects in team sports at young ages. The guidelines of the PRISMA declaration were followed with the purpose of conducting a systematic search. The search was performed in the databases Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscus. From the 451 identified in an early phase, plus the 20 found in the references of other studies, only 47 met the inclusion criteria and were selected. The results yielded scientific evidence that justifies the use of small-sided games as a methodological resource for sports teaching at young ages. Among the main reasons, it can be highlighted that a reduction in the number of players and in the size of the pitch area increases the total ball contact per player and, therefore, the number of technical actions. Moreover, the intentional modification of certain rules helps to develop some sport training fundamentals.

The Basketball Pass: A Systematic Review

The aim of this study was to review and organise current literature about the basketball pass and find the main factors that influence its learning skills and performance. Thirty-seven studies were included after the screening process. The documents were classified into main research topics. This review identified the following conclusions: (i) the assessment of passing performance should be made under uncertain and variable conditions to obtain information on players’ responses to competitive scenarios, (ii) it is advisable to incorporate new and random activities to facilitate the transference of learning to the competition, (iii) it is recommended to include overwhelming factors during the practice to minimise the effect of pressure and choking, (iv) optimal physical conditioning is essential to maintain passing performance during a basketball game, (v) small sided games and changing environments stand as the best training situations to improve passing skills. Furthermore, limited information is available about biomechanical aspects and physical conditioning training programs to improve passing skills in basketball. Likewise, there is sparse data on passing skills development in children.

Comparison of 5vs5 Training Games and Match-Play Using Microsensor Technology in Elite Basketball

Svilar, L, Castellano, J, and Jukic, I. Comparison of 5vs5 training games and match-play using microsensor technology in elite basketball. J Strength Cond Res 33(7): 1897-1903, 2019-The aim of this study was to compare the data obtained using microsensor technology in 2 types of 5vs5 training games-the regular-stop game (RSG) and the no-stop game (NSG)-and in match-play (MP) in elite basketball. Sixteen top-level basketball players were monitored during pre- and in-season periods (10 weeks). The variables included: player load, accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), changes of direction (CoD), and jumps (JUMP)-all in both total (t) and high-intensity (h) relative values (i.e., per minute of play): PLmin, ACCmin, DECmin, CoDmin, and JUMPmin, respectively. Almost all variables showed trivial difference between MP and RSG. The only variable that showed small difference was tACCmin (MP > RSG). In case of RSG vs. NSG, 3 variables showed trivial difference-tACCmin, hACCmin, and hDECmin, 3 (i.e., hCODmin, tDECmin, and PLmin) small differences, and 3 (tCoDmin, tJUMPmin, and hJUMPmin) moderate differences (NSG > RSG). In MP vs. NSG, 2 variables (hCoDmin and tACCmin) showed trivial differences; variable hDECmin showed small difference, whereas the other 5 variables (tCoDmin, tJUMPmin, hJUMPmin, tDECmin, and PLmin) showed moderate difference (NSG > MP). Only one variable, hACCmin, showed moderate difference, when MP > NSG. The main conclusion of the study was that by introducing some constraints into 5vs5 tasks, the coaching staff could elicit higher physical demands than those occurring in MP. By understanding the differences in demands of NSG, RSG, and MP, coaches in elite basketball can improve their system of training drills selection, especially when looking for optimal short-term tapering approach, leading up to the game day.

Effects of using four baskets during simulated youth basketball games

This study aimed to identify how playing basketball with two additional baskets influences the players’ technical, physiological, physical and especially, positional performance. Fourteen youth players performed eight 5vs.5 simulated basketball games, four with the two official baskets and four with two-extra official baskets, each one placed in the court restricted area. The variables collected were technical (field-goals made and missed, offensive and defensive rebounds, steals, passes, dribble-drive, give-and-go and ball possessions), physiological (heart rate monotony and sample entropy), workload (total distance covered and distance covered at different velocities) and positioning-related (distance to the nearest opponent, distance to the nearest teammate, stretch-index and distance between centroids). The results showed that the four-baskets games favoured the emergence of individual behaviours, increasing the game' physical demands and promoting a collective dispersion, which might impair team playing. Conversely, when playing with two-baskets, there was less distance between teammates. In conclusion, this study has clear implications for practice as it emphasizes that coaches can manipulate the number of baskets to modulate training workload and promote different individual and team behaviours.

Effects of Ball Drills and Repeated-Sprint-Ability Training in Basketball Players

Purpose: To investigate the effects of ball drills and repeated-sprint-ability training during the regular season in basketball players. Methods: A total of 30 players were randomized into 3 groups: ball-drills training (BDT, n = 12, 4 × 4 min, 3 vs 3 with 3-min passive recovery), repeated-sprint-ability training (RSAT, n = 9, 3 × 6 × 20-m shuttle running with 20-s and 4-min recovery), and general basketball training (n = 9, basketball technical/tactical exercises), as control group. Players were tested before and after 8 wk of training using the following tests: V˙O2max , squat jump, countermovement jump, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YIRT1), agility T test, line-drill test, 5-/10-/20-m sprints, and blood lactate concentration. A custom-developed survey was used to analyze players' technical skills. Results: After training, significant improvements were seen in YIRT1 (BDT P = .014, effect size [ES] ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 0.3; RSAT P = .022, ES ± 90% CI = 0.7 ± 0.3), the agility T test (BDT P = .018, ES ± 90% CI = 0.7 ± 0.5; RSAT P = .037, ES ± 90% CI = 0.7 ± 0.5), and the line-drill test (BDT P = .010, ES ± 90% CI = 0.3 ± 0.1; RSAT P < .0001, ES ± 90% CI = 0.4 ± 0.1). In the RSAT group, only 10-m sprint speeds (P = .039, ES ± 90% CI = 0.3 ± 0.2) and blood lactate concentration (P = .004, ES ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 1.1) were improved. Finally, technical skills were increased in BDT regarding dribbling (P = .038, ES ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 0.6), shooting (P = .036, ES ± 90% CI = 0.8 ± 0.8), passing (P = .034, ES ± 90% CI = 0.9 ± 0.3), rebounding (P = .023, ES ± 90% CI = 1.1 ± 0.3), defense (P = .042, ES ± 90% CI = 0.5 ± 0.5), and offense (P = .044, ES ± 90% CI = 0.4 ± 0.4) skills. Conclusions: BDT and RSAT are both effective in improving the physical performance of basketball players. BDT had also a positive impact on technical skills. Basketball strength and conditioning professionals should include BDT as a routine tool to improve technical skills and physical performance simultaneously throughout the regular training season.

Effects of basketball-specific high-intensity interval training on aerobic performance and physical capacities in youth female basketball players

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a 5-week, basketball-specific high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on aerobic performance in youth female basketball players.

METHODS

Twenty-four athletes (age 15.1 ± 1.1 years; height: 170 ± 5.2 cm; body mass: 60.9 ± 6.0 kg) took part in the investigation. The training group (TG, n = 11) integrated 10 basketball-specific HIIT sessions in their normal team training, the other group (n = 13) continued their team training routine and served as controls (CG). All HIIT sessions contained different basketball-specific drills. Before (pre-) and after the training period (post-) physical fitness was tested.

RESULTS

The Yo-yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-yo IR) performance was very likely increased in the TG (26,5 %). No improvements in the Yo-Yo IR performance were found in the CG (-6,8%). Likely positive effects in the TG were evident for the sprint and agility tests with (1.2 ± 2.4%, ES: 0.25, p = 0.29) and without ball (1.5 ± 4.6%, ES: 0.34, p = 0.20). The sprint and agility performance with ball significantly decreased in the CG by -2.8 ± 4.7% (ES: 0.49, p < 0.01). No differences between the groups were found for counter movement jump with arm swing (TG: ES = 0.14, p = 0.45, CG: ES = 0.20 p = 0.18), counter movement jump (TG: ES = 0.05, p = 0.70, CG: ES = 0.19, p = 0.10), squat jump (TG: ES = 0.06, p = 0.72, CG: ES = 0.10, p = 0.54) and long jump (TG: ES = 0.00, p = 0.82, CG: ES = 0.00, p = 0.81).

CONCLUSION

A 5-week, basketball-specific HIIT improves the aerobic performance in young female basketball athletes.

Energetic Profile of the Basketball Exercise Simulation Test in Junior Elite Players

PURPOSE

To analyze the energetic profile of the Basketball Exercise Simulation Test (BEST).

METHODS

Ten male elite junior basketball players (age 15.5 [0.6] y, height 180 [9] cm, and body mass 66.1 [11.2] kg) performed a modified BEST (20 circuits consisting of jumping, sprinting, jogging, shuffling, and short breaks) simulating professional basketball game play. Circuit time, sprint time, sprint decrement, oxygen uptake (VO₂), heart rate, and blood lactate concentration (blc) were obtained. Metabolic energy and metabolic power above rest (W_tot and P_tot), as well as energy share in terms of aerobic (W_aer), glycolytic (W_blc), and high-energy phosphates (W_PCr), were calculated from VO₂ during exercise, net lactate production, and the fast component of postexercise VO₂ kinetics, respectively.

RESULTS

W_aer, W_blc, and W_PCr reflect 89% (2%), 5% (1%), and 6% (1%) of total energy needed, respectively. Assuming an aerobic replenishment of PCr energy stores during short breaks, the adjusted energy share yielded W_aer 66% (4%), W_blc 5% (1%), and W_PCr 29% (1%). W_aer and W_PCr were negatively correlated (-0.72 and -0.59) with sprint time, which was not the case for W_blc.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with general findings on energy system interaction during repeated high-intensity exercise bouts, the intermittent profile of the BEST relies primarily on aerobic energy combined with repetitive supplementation by anaerobic utilization of high-energy phosphates.

Space Creation Dynamics in Basketball Small-Sided Games

Space creation dynamics (SCDs) describe actions players perform to create a scoring opportunity. This study compared SCDs and types of offense during three different three versus three (3vs.3) basketball small-sided games (SSGs) played in half court: 3vs.3 with man-to-man defense in half playing area (3vs.3_HALF), 3vs.3 with man-to-man defense in full playing area (3vs.3_FULL), and 3vs.3 with reduced shot clock (3vs.3_RT). We also investigated the efficacy of SCDs in all SSGs and the reliability of SCDs in 3vs.3_HALF. While the efficacy of SCDs did not differ among these SSGs, 3vs.3_RT presented significantly more "space creation with ball dribbled" and "shot clock violations," and less "on ball screens." 3vs.3_FULL presented no differences in the SCDs and types of offense compared with 3vs.3_HALF. Reliability within 3vs.3_HALF was higher for "space creation with ball dribbled," "space creation without the ball," "set offenses," "fast breaks," and "loss of ball during passing or dribbling." We concluded that 3vs.3 basketball SSGs with different rules can be used for training different tactical behaviors important to formal games, especially since the 3vs.3_HALF presented good reliability for many variables related to tactical behavior.

Determinants of the effectiveness of fast break actions in elite and sub-elite Italian men's basketball games

The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of successful and unsuccessful fast-break (FB) actions in elite and sub-elite basketball games. Fifteen 1^st-division (elite) and fifteen 3^rd-division (sub-elite) Italian men's championship games were analysed across two seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014). A binary logistic regression analysis was performed, and the fast-break outcome (successful vs. unsuccessful) was adopted as the dependent variable separately in both elite and sub-elite games. FB execution (initiation, advance and completion phases), typology (primary and secondary break) and the number of players involved (equal number or superiority) were used as independent variables. The results showed that the rate of success of FB actions was 63.5% and 59.7% in elite and sub-elite games, respectively. Moreover, successful FBs were more likely to be completed in the lane in relation to unsuccessful ones in both elite and sub-elite games (p<0.05). Finally, descriptive statistics showed that both elite and sub-elite teams executed FBs similarly. This study highlighted that completion zone was the only predictor of a successful fast break in basketball, while the typology and number of players involved did not predict fast break effectiveness. Moreover, elite and sub-elite teams executed fast break actions similarly. These findings might be useful for basketball coaches to optimize the training of FB actions.

Effect of Number of Players and Maturity on Ball-Drills Training Load in Youth Basketball

This study aimed to assess the basketball ball-drills workload analyzing: (1) the effect of varying the number of players involved on physiological and technical demands; (2) the temporal changes in players’ responses across bouts; and (3) the relationship of players’ workload with their maturation status and training age. Twelve young male basketball players (mean ± SD; age 13.9 ± 0.7 years; height 1.76 ± 0.06 m; body mass 65.7 ± 12.5 kg; HR_max 202 ± 8 beat·min⁻¹) completed three bouts of 4 min interspersed by 2 min of passive recovery of two vs. two and four vs. four ball-drills. The mean percentage of HR_max (%HR_max) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected. Technical actions (TAs) (dribbles, passes, shots, interceptions, steals, rebounds, and turnovers) were calculated through notational analysis. Players’ genitalia development (GD) and pubic hair (PH) growth were assessed using Tanner scale. Results showed a higher %HR_max (p = 0.018), RPE (p = 0.042), dribbles (p = 0.007), shots (p = 0.003), and rebounds (p = 0.006) in two vs. two compared to four vs. four condition. Furthermore, a statistical difference was found for %HR_max (p = 0.005) and number of passes (p = 0.020) between bouts. In addition, no correlation between GD, PH, and training age with %HR_max, RPE, and TAs was found. These findings suggest that variations of the number of players involved affect ball-drills workload and that ball-drills training intensity varies across bouts. Finally, ball-drills elicit an adequate training stimulus, regardless of players’ maturation status and training age.

Performance profile of NCAA Division I men's basketball games and training sessions

This study aimed to analyse live and stoppage time phases, their ratio, and action played on half and full court in college basketball games. Differences were assessed for the entire games and between halves. Moreover, differences of the live/stoppage time ratio were analysed between games and game-based conditioning drills. Ten games as well as fifteen defensive, fourteen offensive and six scrimmage-type drills of the same division I men's college team (13 players) were analysed using time-motion analysis technique. Live and stoppage time were classified in five classes of duration: 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, >80 seconds. Half court actions started and finished in the same half court. Full court actions were classified as transfer (TR) phases when at least 3 teammates crossed the mid-court line. TR phases were then classified in 5 classes of frequency: 1TR, 2TR, 3TR, 4TR, and >4TR. The results revealed no statistically significant differences between games or between halves for the considered parameters. The only significant difference was observed for live/stoppage time ratio between halves (p<0.001). Furthermore, a significant difference of the live/stoppage ratio was found between games and game-based drills (p<0.01). Post-hoc analysis demonstrated significant differences of scrimmage-type drills in comparison to games, and defensive and offensive drills (p<0.05), whereas no differences emerged for the other pairwise comparisons. The absence of differences between games in the analysed parameters might be important to characterize the model of performance in division I men's college games. Furthermore, these results encourage coaches to use game-based conditioning drills to replicate the LT/ST ratio documented during games.

The influence of basketball dribbling on repeated high-intensity intermittent runs

Background/Objective

This research examines whether or not the Yo-Yo testing performance could reflect the repeatability of high-intensity intermittent dribbling in adolescent basketball players.

Methods

Thirty-six teenage basketball players aged 13-18 years were invited to participate in this study.

Results

A test-retest showed that the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance Level 2 (IE2) test with dribbling (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.92; coefficient of variation = 12.6%; d = 0.24) and without dribbling (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.83; coefficient of variation = 15.0%; d = 0.37) had acceptable reliability. The dribbling distance covered was significantly shorter than was the running performance of the Yo-Yo IE2 test in participants younger than 15 years (junior; 1138 ± 417 m vs. 910 ± 299 m, p < 0.01; d = 0.65), as well as in the entire study sample (1077 ± 398 m vs. 1267 ± 437 m, p < 0.05; d = 0.45), whereas there was no significant difference in the senior players between the two protocols (1396 ± 436 m vs. 1244 ± 427 m, p > 0.05; d = 0.35). Moderate to large correlations were found between running and dribbling performances in the senior sample (r = 0.57, p = 0.06), the junior sample (r = 0.87, p < 0.01), and the whole (r = 0.72, p < 0.01) sample, respectively.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the Yo-Yo IE2 test could reflect the repeatability of high-intensity intermittent basketball dribbling performance, while dribbling skills may have different influences on high-intensity intermittent exercise capacity in adolescent players at different ages.