The importance and development of ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills in basketball players for different positions

Abstract

This study first investigated the importance of ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills in achieving the elite level in basketball. The second aim was to gain insight into the development of, and association between ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills that contribute to achieving the elite level, with taking into account positional differences. Talented male players (N = 73; age 16.56 ± 1.96) completed the STARtest to measure ball control and a questionnaire to measure (selfreported) self-regulation from 2008-2012. Results showed that (self-reported) reflective skills were most important to achieve the elite level (OR = 11.76; P < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in (self-reported) reflection over time for guards, forwards, and centers. Improvement in ball control was evident for guards (r = −0.65; P < 0.05). Furthermore, guards and forwards had better ball control compared to centers (P < 0.01). For those two positions, negative correlations were found between (self-reported) reflection and ball control, i.e., higher reflection was related to better ball control (guards r = −0.19; forwards r = −0.18) in contrast to centers (r = 0.34). It is concluded that (self-reported) reflective skills are important to achieve the elite level, while ball control seems especially important for guards.

Effect of Technical Training Using a Ball on the Dribbling Speed for Football Players Aged 10-12 Years

“…Ball control is an exceptionally essential skill for football/soccer players since able to deliberately performing successful dribbling significantly while changing direction is required to achieve successful performances [7], [8], [9]. However, the importance of these skills needed in soccer can vary between players and different field playing positions.…”

“…Soccer players can be roughly divided into three prominent positions based on players' skills (guard, forward, centre), which each has slightly different roles to execute. By it, some players often spend many hours in training just in the wake of improving those skills which are especially important in their chosen sport (e.g., ball control in soccer ball) [7], [10]. According to [11], at least 10000 hours or ten years of deliberate practise are needed to meet expertise level.…”

“…However, the main problem to master with dribbling techniques often seeming with the unskilled player is the manner to control the ball with a soft touch, and thereby the player does not push it too far ahead for the defender to steal. [4], [7] stated that keeping the ball close, using both feet, having soft touches, and looking at a 45-degree angle are the crucial cues players should apply or present while performing the dribbling activity in a soccer game. Mainly many young children fascinated by football playing want to poke the ball with the toes, and subsequently causing the ball to roll too far ahead of them.…”

“…Due to this disparity in skills, soccer coaches must work in an integrated manner to ensure a structured and effective program simply known as technical training, and agility in players as the main components of soccer training [20]. Based on the results of observations of the school of a soccer ball at Yogyakarta State University, it has found that there are still many students who have not been able to play football properly, especially in the speed of dribbling [1], [7]. UNY soccer school students have several groups fostering separately based on different age groups, where one of them is a group of 10-12 years.…”

Modelling the dynamics of change in the technical skills of young basketball players: The INEX study

“…Sekine et al [ 18 ], using a pre-post design to study muscle morphology, jump and sprint performance in 12-15-year-old basketballers, reported that after one year players advanced in maturation improved significantly more in jump and sprint performance when compared to average and late maturing players. A study of technical skill (ball control) relating to self-regulatory skills in adolescent basketball players aged 13–20 years [ 19 ] found that ball control improved with age, especially between 13 and 17 years. Ball control interacted with positional differences, with guards revealing the highest rate of ball control development over the same ages.…”