Defensive Strategy and Player Sex Impact Heart-Rate Responses During Games-Based Drills in Professional Basketball

The discriminative, criterion, and longitudinal validity of small-sided games to assess physical fitness in female basketball players

The validity of small-sided games (SSG) for assessing physical fitness was evaluated in 21 female basketball players from senior (n = 8), under-18 years (n = 6), and under-16 years (n = 7) age categories. Players underwent fitness testing (countermovement jump [CMJ], agility T-test, repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test [YYIRT1]) and 3vs3-SSG before and after a 6-week preseason. Player demands were monitored during SSG using local positioning system and heart rate technology. Regarding discriminative validity, senior players produced better CMJ, agility T-test, and YYIRT1 performance (p  < 0.05, effect size [ES] = 1.72-2.25), and more distance and PlayerLoad (p  < 0.05, ES = 1.53-2.47) during SSG than under-18 players following the preseason. For criterion validity, total distance and distance completing high-intensity decelerations during SSG were significantly (p  < 0.05) correlated with CMJ (r = 0.44-0.66), YYIRT1 (r = 0.43-0.63), agility T-test (total distance only, r=-0.51), and RSA test performance (r=-0.49 to -0.52) among all players combined following the preseason. Regarding longitudinal validity, significantly better agility T-test and YYIRT1 performance (p ≤ 0.001, ES = 0.88-0.93) alongside lower heart rate during SSG (p = 0.001, ES = 0.88) were evident for all players combined following the preseason. These results partially support the validity of 3vs3-SSG to assess physical fitness in female basketball players.

Long-Term Analyses of the Rate of Perceived Exertion as an Indicator of Intensity in Women’s Basketball during a Relegation Play-off

Simple Summary

Knowledge of internal load is essential to understand the effect of training and competition on athletes. The aim of this study was to analyse the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale as an indicator of intensity in amateur basketball players during a relegation play-off. The heart rate and RPE of 10 players from a Copa Catalunya team while competing over a 10-day period were analysed. There was an improvement in the relationship between the two variables from the first to the last match. The results suggest that RPE could be seen as an indicator of intensity in amateur basketball players during a relegation play-off, improving their relationship with MHR as the weeks went by, which could suggest a learning process.

Abstract

Knowledge of internal load is essential to understand the effect of training and competition on athletes. The aim of this study was to analyse the validity of the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale as an indicator of intensity in amateur female basketball players during a relegation play-off. The heart rate and RPE of 10 players (age: 21.30 ± 2.71 years, weight: 68.84 ± 11.21 kg, body fat: 20.74 ± 3.51%) from a Copa Catalunya team while competing over a 10-day period were analysed. The mean heart rate of each match was registered with the Suunto Team Pack™ heart rate monitors. The RPE values were obtained once the match ended, completing the original Borg scale. The mean RPE ranged from 15.20 ± 2.39 to 18.00 ± 1.07 AU, whereas the mean heart rate (MHR) ranged from 132.35 ± 12.37 to 147.33 ± 10.61 bpm. There was also an improvement in the statistical correlation between the two variables as the days progressed. Regression equations were calculated for the total number of registered matches and the last five matches, obtaining the following regression equations: MHR = 6.23 × RPE20 + 36.8 (R² = 0.56) for all games and MHR = 30.95 + 6.73 × RPE (R² = 0.73) for the last five games. The results suggest that RPE could be seen as an indicator of intensity in amateur basketball players during a relegation play-off, improving their relationship with MHR as the weeks went by, which could suggest a learning process.

THE INDIRECT INFLUENCE OF BASKETBALL ON CARDIAC AND CEREBRAL VASCULARIZATION

ABSTRACT Introduction: Some experimental research has proved that long-term basketball exercises can effectively improve physical fitness, promote growth and improve motor functions. However, studies exploring the specific effects of this sport on cardiac and cerebral vascularization are still scarce. Objective: We aimed to study, through experimental analysis, if the activities derived from basketball sport can have some influence on cardiac and cerebral vascularization. Methods: Twelve students with no family history of genetic diseases and in good health, who regularly practice amateur basketball, were followed for 8 weeks. Weight, height, body mass index, body fat rate, maximum oxygen consumption, hemoglobin, and indicators of lipid metabolism were analyzed. Results: After long-term basketball exercises, the body fat rate of these college students decreased significantly, and total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein also show significant differences compared with the control group. Conclusion: Through the processing and analysis of the experimental data, it can be concluded that basketball can effectively reduce the human body fat rate, maintain a healthy body shape, and indirectly reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.