Effect of a training program on the improvement of basketball players´ decision making

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to analyse whether a tactical training program based on a constructivist model canimprove decision making related to keeping control of the ball for a men's senior basketball team composed of ten players. Thedependent variables were player distribution around the ball, and achieving support on both sides of the ball at an effectivepassing distance. Data collection was made through observational analysis utilizing a previously validated tool. A pretest-posttestdesign without a control group was used. Results demonstrated an improvement in decision making after the posttest for boththe number of support players near the player with the ball, as it increased from 85% in the pretest to 100% in the posttest, andthe number of collective or team actions around the player with the ball (from 5% to 76.5%) with highly significant differences.The primary conclusion is that a training program for teaching team tactics based on a constructivist model has a positiveinfluence on players’ capability to facilitate the pass to their teammates(AU)