The aim of this study was to determine the effects of plyometric training on sprint abilities. Young basketball players (N=33, Age=15-16) from OKK "Stari Ras" and OKK "Novi Pazar" from Novi Pazar were divided into two groups: an experimental group (EG, n=16; BH=185.45±8.75cm; BM=76.87±11.51kg) with training experience (TE=4.69 ±1.40 years) and a control group (CG; n=17; BH=184.16±6.93cm; BM=76.87±11.51kg) with training experience (TE=5.53±3.18 years). The EG was made up of the players from basketball team OKK "Stari Ras", who in addition to basketball trainings also took part in plyometric training. The CG was made up of the players from basketball team OKK "Novi Pazar", who at that time only took part in basketball trainings. To assess their sprint abilities, three tests were used: Sprint Speed at 5m (S5m), Sprint Speed at 10m (S10m), Sprint Speed at 20m (S20m). The measurement was done with the help of the photocells "Microgate", a parameter which was monitored and the processed time was read in 1/100s. The experimental program lasted for 10 weeks (2x per week). To determine the effect of plyometric training on the sprint abilities of young basketball players, the analysis of covariance ANCOVA was used. The results showed that the EG group achieved significantly greater progress than the CG group on the tests: S5m and S20m. There was no difference between the EG and CG group on the S10m test. Based on these results we concluded that plyometric training has positive effects on the development of sprint abilities in young basketball players.

ZARIC, I.; DOPSAJ, M.; MARKOVIC, M.; ZARIC, M.; JAKOVLJEVIC, S. & BERIC, D. Body composition characteristics measured by multichannel bioimpedance in young female basketball players: relation with match performance. Int. J. Morphol., 38(2):328-335, 2020. SUMMARY:The aim of this research is to investigate the correlation of morphological characteristics, that is, body composition characteristics with the competitive performance of female basketball players of cadet (U16) age, in general and depending on the position played in the basketball team. The research involved female basketball players from the U16 section of the three best basketball clubs from the First Cadet League of Serbia (N = 30). This research consisted of measuring the characteristics of body composition, as a space of independent variables and the analysis of competitive activities where the dependent variable represents the level of achieved competitive performance. Based on the results of the Pearson Correlation Analysis, which was made for determining the degree of connection between the dependent variable and the independent variables, it can be seen that general level competitive performance is associated with the variables: percentage skeletal muscle mass, index of hypokinesy and protein-fat index. Viewed from the point of the position played in the team, the statistically significant relationship between the independent and the dependent variable was recorded only in the forwards position. Competitive and more successful forward players are distinguished by a small percentage of body fat mass, a higher percentage of muscle mass, a smaller hypokinesy index and a larger protein-fat index. The practical application of this research can be seen in the control system of applied training work, then selection, as well as in the creation of a model for morphological characteristics of players in the cadet (U16) age. ZARIC, I.; DOPSAJ, M.; MARKOVIC, M.; ZARIC, M.; JAKOVLJEVIC, S. & BERIC, D. Body composition characteristics measured by multichannel bioimpedance in young female basketball players: relation with match performance. Int. J. Morphol., 38(2):328-335, 2020.

This study was done with the aim of determining the effects a programmed training would have on the changes in the explosive strength of young female volleyball players. The sample consisted of 30 female volleyball players, aged 14 to 16, divided into two groups – the experimental one (n=15) and the control group (n=15). The experimental group was comprised of the players from the club OK ‘Desetka’, who, apart from the basic technical and tactical training process, underwent a specially designed programme for developing explosive strength two times a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays). The experimental programme was applied during the period of preparations before the official beginning of the regional competitions for cadets. The control group was comprised of the players from the club OK ‘Millennium’, who, during the same period of time, underwent only those training sessions which had previously been planned within the annual plan and programme of the club. Explosive strength evaluation included four sets of tests: the squat jump (SJ), countermowement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), one-legged CMJ (OLCMJ). The effects of the progremmed training on the development of the explosive strength of the young female volleyball players was determined by the Covariance Analysis, ANCOVA. The results obtained in such a way showed the statistically significant improvement in the parameters tested within the experimental group. The difference was insignificant in the OLCMJ test only. The results point to the conclusion that the experimental training programme had positive effects on the changes of explosive strength of young female volleyball players.

Explosive power in basketball is manifested through various variants of jumps, starting acceleration, sudden changes in direction, deceleration, sudden stops and passing. The aim of this research is to identify and sum up the relevant literature published in the period from 2000 to 2019, focusing on the explosive power of basketball players, and to explain relations between training programs and explosive power development. The results confirmed that explosive power is a significant characteristic of professional basketball players and one of the most important factors for achieving top results. The results show that in spite of the inborn coefficient, the development of explosive power can be realized through planned, rational and well-organized training. A positive correlation was determined between explosive power and running at short distances, jumps and throwing, as well as between explosive power and lean body mass in basketball players of different ages.  It is necessary to give greater attention to the training of explosive power, because it is an effective means that contributes to the efficiency of the basketball player.

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of the experimental program on improving physical fitness in adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). For the needs of a dual prospective study of the cohort, 122 adolescents aged 13 to 17 with mild ID were recruited and then divided into two groups, experimental (EG) and control (CG). The EG was subjected to a special program of sports games (SSGP) lasting 12 weeks, four times a week, with 30-minute duration of each session. CG was subjected to the program of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (MP), with the same duration, weekly frequency and session duration, with one session per week being the time of the selected sport. The data for 30 adolescents within EG and CG were collected for further analysis, respectively. Physical fitness of the respondents was tested using the Eurofit fitness test battery: standing long jump (SLJ), single-arm ball pushing (SABP), sit-ups (SUP), 25-meter run (R25), seated forward bend (SFB), bench walking (BW1), and narrow bench walking (BW2). SSGP led to statistically significant improvements in EG concerning arm's explosive strength, local muscular endurance, speed and flexibility of the hip. The results of ANOVA and MANOVA indicated that after the implementation of SSGP, there was a statistically significant positive difference in favor of EG compared to CG. It can be concluded that the SSGP contributed with a greater extent to the development of physical fitness than MP in adolescents with ID.