Shot Distribution and Accuracy in Senior and Youth International Basketball Games: Changes over the Decade of the 2010s

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the changes in shot distribution and accuracy in senior and under-17 international basketball tournaments in the 2010s. A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed, and a total of 1055 games from 20 world-level tournaments held between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed. The tournaments held in 2010 were played under the old three-point line (6.25 m), and the rest of the tournaments were played under the new three-point line (6.75 m). The numbers of two- and three-point shot attempts in each game were normalized to 100 possessions. Differences in mean values of two- and three-point shot attempts were analyzed by a two-way (category × year) between-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA). Differences in the success rates of two- and three-point shots were analyzed by Fisher’s exact test. There was no significant category × year interaction for two-point shot attempts. However, there were significant main effects of category and year for two-point shot attempts. The number of two-point shot attempts increased significantly in 2012 and, in 2016, returned to a level not significantly different from that in 2010, independent of categories. There was a significant category × year interaction for three-point shot attempts. The number of three-point shot attempts decreased significantly in 2012 and, by 2016, returned to a level not significantly different from that in 2010 in senior men and under-17 women. There was no significant change in the number of three-point shot attempts in under-17 men. The effect of the extension of the three-point line on shot accuracy was limited. Differences in shot accuracy were prominent between age categories: the accuracy was lower in under-17 games than in senior games for both sexes. Although under-17 men attempted fewer three-point shots than senior men, under-17 women attempted a similar number of or more three-point shots than senior women. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of age and sex differences in recent trends in international basketball.

Age and Sex Differences in Shot Distribution and Accuracy in International 3x3 Basketball Tournaments

“…Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that male teams have higher success rates than female teams, and senior teams have higher success rates than under-18 teams. These assumptions are partially consistent with a previous study on international 5-on-5 basketball: the success rate of three-point shots (two-point shots in 3x3 basketball) was higher in the senior tournament than in the under-18 tournament for both sexes (Madarame, 2021). Sex differences in the success rate were not observed in the 5-on-5 study probably because differences in muscle strength and power were compensated by differences in size and weight of the balls: the ball used in women's 5-on-5 basketball is smaller and lighter than the ball used in men's 5-on-5 basketball.…”

“…However, the fact that male teams showed higher success rates than female teams was consistent with a previous report on one-point success rates in under-18 games (Erčulj et al, 2019). In addition, a previous study on international 5-on-5 basketball has also reported that the success rate of two-point shots (one-point shots in 3x3 basketball) was higher in the men's tournament than in the women's tournament and higher in the senior tournament than in the under-18 tournament (Madarame, 2021).…”

“…However, since men's both age categories rarely attempt mid-range shots, it would not have been capable of further reducing mid-range shot attempts. A previous study on international 5-on-5 basketball has also reported that differences in shot distribution between senior and under-18 games were only observed in men's tournaments (Madarame, 2021). Therefore, women's games likely have more similarities between senior and under-18 tournaments than men's in both disciplines of basketball.…”

“…Given the nature of the game, information on where the shots were SHOT DISTRIBUTION AND ACCURACY IN 3X3 BASKETBALL | H. MADARAME attempted from and how accurate they were are essential in evaluating technical and tactical performances. A previous study has reported that shot distribution and accuracy differ among age and sex categories in elite-level games (Madarame, 2021). This type of information could provide a basis for developing optimal tactics and training programs based on the age and sex of players.…”