RESUMO
When playing basketball, players are required to have high explosive power, which requires the ability to move in efficient, specific, and game-specific movement patterns that combine both horizontal and vertical abilities. Differences have been seen between young male and female basketball players in this measure. The aim of this study was to examine differences in players' unique movements by gender, age, and playing positions using a novel test for basketball players. This study included 232 young basketball players, male and female, from a range of Israeli leagues, who were divided into three categories: under-14, under-16, and under-18. Our findings showed that males presented better results than females in all age categories. Moreover, females in the under-18 category presented better results than those in the under-14 category, but not more than those in the under-16 category. Differences in playing positions were only examined between males and females in the under-18 category, where players begin to specialize in playing positions, and here, guards showed better results than forwards and centers. Our conclusions highlight the importance of including unique, sport-specific tests in talent identification and selection processes, as these tests can provide valuable information about a player's skill set and potential for success. The findings are presented in an achievement table of the expected physical fitness results by age and gender for the benefit of basketball coaches and strength and conditioning coaches when assessing their players.
RESUMO
SUMMARY: The aim of this research was to determine the differences among the male basketball players of the National team of Montenegro U18 and the National team of Republic of North Macedonia, in terms of their anthropometric characteristics and body composition. A sample of 27 subjects was divided into two sub-samples. The first sub-sample of the subjects consisted of 15 players of the National team of Montenegro, average age 17.6±0.63, while the other sub-sample consisted of 12 players of the National team of Republic of North Macedonia, average age of 17.17± 0.72. All players were tested in Podgorica, in lasting period of two days, while they held preparations for the European Championship. Anthropometric characteristics and body composition were evaluated by a battery of eleven variables: body height (cm), body weight (kg), triceps skinfold, back skinfold, biceps skinfold, abdominal skinfold, thigh skinfold, calf skinfold, body mass index (BMI), percentage of fat and muscle mass (kg). Differences in anthropometric characteristic and composition of the body of the basketball players of two national teams were determined by using a discriminatory parametric procedure with t-test for small independent samples (p<0.05). The players of the two teams were found to differ statistically in thigh skinfold. Furthermore, it is concluded that Montenegro players are taller and heavier and have higher muscle mass than North Macedonian players, with approximate skinfolds, BMI and fat percentage values.
RESUMEN: El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar las diferencias en las características antropométricas y composición corporal entre los jugadores de baloncesto masculino del equipo nacional de Montenegro U18 y el equipo nacional de la República de Macedonia del Norte. Una muestra de 27 sujetos se dividió en dos submuestras. La primera sub muestra consistió en 15 jugadores del equipo nacional de Montenegro, con una edad promedio de 17,6 ± 0,63 años. La otra muestra consistió en 12 jugadores del equipo nacional de la República de Macedonia del Norte, con un promedio edad de 17,17 ± 0,72 años. Todos los jugadores fueron evaluados en Podgorica, durante un período de dos días, mientras realizaban los preparativos para el Campeonato de Europa. Las características antropométricas y la composición corporal se evaluaron mediante una batería de once variables: altura (cm), peso (kg), pliegue de tríceps, pliegue de espalda, pliegue de bíceps, pliegue abdominal, pliegue de muslos, pliegue de pantorrilla, índice de masa corporal (IMC), porcentaje de grasa y masa muscular (kg). Se determinaron las diferencias en las características antropométricas y la composición del cuerpo de los jugadores de baloncesto de dos equipos nacionales a través de un procedimiento paramétrico discriminatorio con prueba t para muestras independientes (p <0,05). Se determinó que los jugadores de ambos equipos difieren estadísticamente en el pliegue del muslo. Además, se concluyó que en comparación con los jugadores de Macedonia del Norte los jugadores de Montenegro son de mayor altura y peso, además de contar con una mayor masa muscular, con valores aproximados de pliegues cutáneos, IMC y porcentaje de grasa.
