The three-point shot (3S) is a fundamental basketball skill used frequently during a game, and is often a main determinant of the final result. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different metabolic conditions, in terms of heart rates, on 3S accuracy (3S%) in 24 male (Under 17) basketball players (age 16.3 ± 0.6 yrs). 3S performance was specifically investigated at different heart rates. All sessions consisted of 10 consecutive 3Ss from five different significant field spots just beyond the FIBA three-point line, i.e., about 7 m from the basket (two counter-clockwise “laps”) at different heart rates: rest (0HR), after warm-up (50%HRMAX [50HR]), and heart rate corresponding to 80% of its maximum value (80%HRMAX [80HR]). We found that 50HR does not significantly decrease 3S% (−15%, P = 0.255), while 80HR significantly does when compared to 0HR (−28%, P = 0.007). Given that 50HR does not decrease 3S% compared to 0HR, we believe that no preliminary warm-up is needed before entering a game in order to specifically achieve a high 3S%. Furthermore, 3S training should be performed in conditions of moderate-to-high fatigued state so that a high 3S% can be maintained during game-play.

The aims of this systematic review were (1) to summarize the evidence on absolute velocity thresholds used to classify high-speed running and sprinting, (2) to examine the existing evidence about the individualized thresholds approach, (3) to describe high-speed and sprint running distance match demands, and (4) to provide training strategies for eliciting HSR and sprinting during training sessions in professional adult soccer. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. After the authors' screening, 30 studies were included in this review. This review found that, to date, there is no consensus on the absolute thresholds defining high-speed and sprint running in adult soccer players. Until international standards are defined, it is reasonable to set absolute thresholds considering the range of values found in the literature collected in this review. Relative velocity thresholds could be considered for specific training sessions whose goal is to reach near maximal velocity exposure. During official matches, high-speed and sprint running distances ranged from 911 to 1,063 m and 223–307 m, respectively, in professional female soccer players, while ranges from 618 to 1,001 m and 153–295 m, respectively, in professional male soccer players. During training, game-based drills designed in formats using relative areas per player greater than 225 m2 and 300 m2 appear to be adequate for achieving high-speed running and sprinting exposure, respectively, for male players. The combination of game-based, running exercises and soccer circuit-based drills is advisable to ensure adequate high-speed and sprint running exposure both at a team and individual level.

Purpose. To compare the acute effects of two post activation potentiation (PAP) protocols using traditional or cluster-set configurations on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Methods. Twenty-six male basketball players were evaluated on three occasions separated by 72 hours. On the first session, athletes performed barbell squat jumps with progressively heavier loads to determine their individual optimum power loads. On the second and third sessions, athletes completed two PAP protocols in a randomized, counterbalanced order: 3 sets of 6 repetitions of squat jumps using optimum power loads performed with either a traditional (no inter-repetition rest) or a cluster-set (20 s rest every 2 repetitions) configurations. After a comprehensive warm-up, CMJ height was measured using a force platform before, 30 s, 4 min, and 8 min after completing the PAP protocols. Results. While at post-30 s athletes jumped lower compared to baseline in both conditions, jump heights were 0.71 cm higher following the cluster-set compared to the traditional condition (95% CI: 0.37, 1.05 cm). While athletes jumped higher compared to baseline at post-4 and post-8 min in both conditioning, jump heights were higher following the cluster-set compared to the traditional condition in post-4 min by 1.33 cm (95% CI: 1.02, 1.65 cm) and in post-8 min by 1.64 cm (95% CI: 1.41, 1.88 cm). Conclusions. Both traditional and cluster-set configurations induced a PAP response in vertical jump performance using optimum power loaded squat jumps, but the cluster-set configuration led to superior performance likely due to the reduced accumulation of muscular fatigue.

Purpose: The barbell hip thrust (BHT) exercise is growing in popularity as evident by the large increase in research outputs investigating its utility as a training intervention and a testing tool. The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the BHT for the first time. Methods: To establish concurrent validity, the peak force and power measured with the BHT force-velocity profile test of 49 handball athletes, were correlated with peak concentric force of the knee-flexors and hip-extensors measured with an isokinetic device at two different velocities. Test-retest reliability was established by correlating the peak force and power measured with the BHT force-velocity profile test of 20 handball athletes on two separate days. Results: The relationships between the isokinetic testing scores and the BHT force-velocity profile tests were moderate to strong (Pearson r ranges: 0.45-0.86). Test-retest reliability of the BHT force-velocity profile was very high as shown with intra-class correlations of 0.94 and 0.99 for peak force and 0.97 and 0.99 for peak power measures. Conclusion: The BHT force-velocity profile can serve as a tentative substitute in cases that athletes do not have access to an isokinetic device given the moderate to strong correlations between them. Moreover, the BHT force-velocity profile was shown to be very reliable thus providing coaches and scientists a range of day-to-day performance variability in this exercise.

18The aim of this study was to compare the effects of small sided games (SSG) and traditional bouts. Countermovement jumps and plyometric press-ups were assessed before and immediately 24 after the warm-up regimens using a force plate. Heart rate (HR) was assessed during the warm 25 up regimens, and rating of perceived effort (RPE) was assessed after the regimens. Meaningful