Comparison of maturation and physical performance in basketball athletes of different playing positions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of somatic maturation, anthropometric and physical performance (vertical jump and aerobic power) in young basketball players of different playing positions (under 13 years) and analyze these relationships using Peak Height Velocity (PHV) as a measure of somatic maturation. For this, 26 male athletes were evaluated. Anthropometric variables were: body mass, standing and sitting height, and length of lower limbs. Maturation was determined by age at PHV. Physical performance was determined by lower limb power (counter movement jump - CMJ) and aerobic power (Intermittent Recovery Test) tests. MANOVA reported significant differences (p<0.05) among playing positions regarding variables Maturity Offset, estimated PHV age, standing height, sitting height, estimated leg length, body mass and Yo-Yo IR1. In addition, it was identified that point guards reached estimated PHV at later age than their peers who act as small forwards and centers. Regarding CMJ, no significant differences were identified among playing positions, but in relation to aerobic power, point guards and small forwards presented higher performance. These findings confirm that maturation has great effect on growth and physical performance measures and the estimated PHV age is an applicable tool in young athletes, mainly aiding professionals in structuring the teaching-learning- training process in this age group.

A Needs Analysis and Training Considerations for Female Adolescent Basketball Players

“…Training staff should account for training age, level of physical maturity, and movement competency when selecting a periodization scheme. As previously mentioned, adolescent females will undergo a phase of physical and neuromuscular change that can influence performance (13,104). A scheme with substantial variations in intensity and volume accompanied with higher loads, which can be seen more in block and undulating training schedules, may not be appropriate for female adolescent athletes and may put them at greater risk of injury (72).…”

Longitudinal Internal Training Load and Exposure in a High-Performance Basketball Academy

“…In addition, the existing literature pertaining to internal training demands of youth basketball players does not address the apparent position-specific differences (34). Position-specific differences in basketball are distinct and important because they are dictated by the technical and tactical roles they play (36,39) and inform the off-court physical development process (3). For instance, Svilar et al (38) reported greater RPE and sRPE for Guards when compared with Forwards and Centers among professional players.…”

Differences in Body Composition and Maturity Status in Young Male Volleyball Players of Different Levels

“…Sport is selective, chiefly during adolescence, and often occurs along a maturity-related gradient. Many studies have analyzed the influence of maturity status on physical, physiological, and performance characteristics in soccer, basketball, or handball players [13,14,[16][17][18][19], but less information exists on male volleyballers. Albaladejo-Saura and colleagues reported that volleyball players with a more advanced state of maturation exhibited higher values of height, arm span, sitting height, bone diameters, muscle perimeters and fat, muscle and bone masses, and better performance achieved in medicine ball throwing and in countermovement jump (CMJ) than their chronological age peers [20].…”