The aims of this study were (a) to identify and compare the speed and agility of 12- and 14-year-old elite male basketball players and (b) to investigate relations between speed and agility for both age groups of basketball players, to help coaches to improve their work. Sixty-four players aged 12 (M = 11.98 years, SD = 0.311) and 54 players aged 14 (M = 14.092 years, SD = 0.275) were tested. Three agility tests: agility t-test, zigzag agility drill, and agility run 4 × 15 m and 3 speed tests: 20-m run, 30-m run, and 50-m run were applied. Fourteen-year-old players achieved significantly better results in all speed and agility tests compared with 12-year-old players. The correlation coefficient (r = 0.81, p = 0.001) showed that 12-year-old players have the same ability in the 30- and 50-m runs. The other correlation coefficient (r = 0.59, p = 0.001) indicated that 20- and 30-m runs had inherently different qualities. The correlation coefficients between agility tests were <0.71, and therefore, each test in this group represents a specific task. In 14-year-old players, the correlation coefficients between the speed test results were <0.71. In contrast, the correlation coefficients between the agility tests were >0.71, which means that all the 3 tests represent the same quality. During the speed training of 12-year-old players, it is advisable to focus on shorter running distances, up to 30 m. During the agility training of the same players, it is useful to apply exercises with various complexities. In speed training of the 14-year-old players, the 30- and 50-m runs should be applied, and agility training should include more specific basketball movements and activities.

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The aim of this survey was to examine the ability of acceleration and the agility of basketball players. The survey was conducted on a sample of 35 professional Bulgarian basketball players (average age 21.37 ± 2.91 years) who competed in the First Bulgarian Basketball League and were divided into two groups depending on the position of the game: inner players -N = 13 and outer players -N = 22. They were chosen by experts as the best national players in the league. Two tests were applied: 20 meter run (acceleration -T20m) and T-test (agility -TT). During the 20-meter run test, the running times of fi ve (T5m) and 10 meters (T10m) were measured. In addition, body height (BH) and body mass (BM) were measured. Inner players were signifi cantly taller and heavier than the outer players, but no statistically signifi cant differences were found between the two groups of players in the acceleration and agility variables, having in mind that on all the tests outer players achieved better results. High correlations were found between three acceleration variables (T5m, T10m and T20m) and one agility variable (TT) -correlation coeffi cients of .666 to .819 at the signifi cance level of .01.The correlations between body height and acceleration variables are medium -correlation coeffi cients of .306 to .383, at the signifi cance level of .05, while the correlation coeffi cients between body mass and these variables are slightly higher .350 to .415 at the signifi cance level of .01, or .05.

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