Basketball shooting is one of the most important offensive skills in basketball. Winning or losing a game mostly depends on the shooting effectiveness. The study aims to compare the selected kinematic variables of 2-point (2-pt) and 3-point (3-pt) jump shots (after making a cut and receiving the ball) and ascertain the differences between elite male under 16 and 18 (U16M, U18M) and female under 16 and 18 (U16F, U18F) basketball players. Overall, forty-eight young male and female basketball players participated in the study. 3D motion analysis using an inertial suit with the addition of utilizing a smart ball was performed for assessing the 2-pt and 3-pt shooting techniques. Players in male categories shot for 2-pt with a higher center of mass difference in the vertical direction (U16M 5.7 cm, U18M 3.9 cm vs. U16F 1.4 cm, U18F 0.6 cm), with higher release shoulder angle (U16M 110.9, U18M 113.8 vs. U16F 103, U18F 105), and with a higher entry angle of the ball (U16M 34, U18M 32 vs. U16F 30, U18F 30) when compared to female categories (p < 0.001). In the 3-pt shooting, there were differences between male and female categories in the shoulder angle when releasing the ball (p < 0.001). In the players shooting speed, there were differences between U16M vs. U18F (0.95 ± 0.1 vs. 0.88 ± 0.1; p = 0.03) and U16F vs. U18F (0.96 ± 0.06 vs. 0.88 ± 0.1; p = 0.02) players. Male categories shot 3-pt shots with a smaller center of mass difference in the horizontal direction when compared to 2-pt shots (p < 0.001). The entry angle was higher in successful shooting attempts compared to unsuccessful shooting attempts when shooting for 3-pt (p = 0.02). Player shooting speed was higher in all categories (except U18F) when shooting for 3-pt (p < 0.001). It appears that performers show difference in kinematic variables based on distance from the basket. Basketball coaches and players should work to minimize the kinematic differences between 2-pt and 3-pt shooting and to optimize the shooting technique.

Knowledge of the intensity of load in basketball appears to be an essential factor in composing an (guards vs. forwards vs. centers; 88.2 ± 3.5 vs. 87.8 ± 3.1 vs. 88.9 ± 3.4) were neither statistically nor practically significant. Moreover, the differences between the 1 st and 2 nd half in the zones and % of HR max (88.6 ± 3.4 vs. 88.3 ± 3.3) were not statistically significant and the practical significance had small effect. These results can create a solid base for conditioning and also game-based training programs. (88.2 ± 3.5 vs. 87.8 ± 3.1 vs. 88.9 ± 3.4; rozohrávačky vs. krídla vs. pivotky). Medzi polčasmi nebol v pásmach ani v priemernom % z SF max (88.6 ± 3.4 vs. 88.3 ± 3.3; 1. polčas vs. 2. polčas) Key words basketball, player positions, intensity of load, total time Abstrakt

This work aimed to identify the influence of selected endogenous (internal load) and exogenous (possession duration, game quarter, and defensive pressure) factors in natural game conditions on the efficiency of dribbling and passing skills. Dribbling and passing skills were assessed during four games of U19 female basketball players and five games of senior (2nd division) female basketball players. In total, 551 dribbling and 914 passing executions were evaluated. Binary logistic regression identified defensive pressure of the opponent as a predictor of dribbling and passing skills effectivity. When the defensive pressure of the opponent was medium, the chances for the ineffective pass were 1.997 times more likely (95% CI; 1.179–3.383), as it is at the minimum defensive pressure. When the defensive pressure of the opponent was high, the chances for ineffective dribbling were 7.45 times more likely (95% CI; 3.672–15.113) and for ineffective pass were 8.419 times more likely (95% CI; 4.6–15.409), as it is at minimum defensive pressure. The game quarter and the internal load were not identified as the predictors influencing the dribbling and passing effectivity. Possession duration was also an insignificant predictor of dribbling and passing skills effectivity. However, the passing skill effectivity decreases when the shot clock is winding down. These findings confirm the importance of transferring game situations into the training process. Coaches should take into account these factors when they want to stimulate determinants of player performance in a balanced and systematic way.

Victory in a basketball game depends on many factors. One of the main factors that determine game performance of the team is the successfulness of basketball shooting. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of the game load intensity on basketball shooting performance. Ten senior female basketball players (2 nd division) participated in this study. Bleep test was used to set the maximal heart rate (HRmax) of each player. The intensity of game load was classified as follows: <75, 75-84, 85-95, >95 % of HRmax. During the two competitive games and the bleep test the HR was monitored by telemetric device. In the 1 st zone no field goal attempt was recorded. In the 2 nd zone the successfulness of shooting was 60%, in the 3 rd zone 37.5% and in the 4 th zone 45.2%. The relation between the successfulness of shooting and the individual zones was statistically insignificant (χ 2 =2.786; df=2; p=0.24). Calculated Cramer's contingency coefficient (V=0.149) shows weak strength of association. Based on the results we may conclude that the shooting performance in basketball game is not dependent on the intensity of game load. Besides the intensity of game load, the shooting performance can also be affected by many other factors. What is relevant for training process is that the 88.1% of all field goal attempts were made with HR over 85% of HRmax. This fact should be taken into consideration by coaches when planning shooting practice sessions.

PURPOSE Many types of vertical jumps (VJ) are commonly used to assess the development of the level of explosive strength of lower limbs achieved after a training period. This study is focused on comparing various parameters of different types of VJ with 1 RM in Olympic-style weightlifting, squat and deadlift with an Olympic bar.METHODS Twelve elite weightlifters (men=8; women=4; age 26±4 years, height = 173±8 cm; weight 93±23 kg; weight category from 64 kg to +109 kg) were tested for 1 RM in the following exercises: snatch, clean and jerk, deadlift, squat and variations of VJ on dynamometric plates (Kistler Force Plate). The variations of VJ were: squat jump with the arm swing (SJA) and non-arm swing (SJ), countermovement jump with the arm swing (CMJA) and non-arm swing (CMJ). The parameters compared for each type of VJ were: jump height (m), relative force (% of body weight), relative power (W/kg of body weight) and average power (W). For statistical analysis, the parametric Pearsons correlation coefficient with α=0.05 was used. RESULTS The results show a significant correlation between 1 RM in exercises with an Olympic bar (snatch, clean and jerk, back squat and deadlift) and the CMJ, CMJA, SJ and SJA only in the average power output (W) parameter (p<0.05). The significant correlation coefficients in the average power output (W) were for the CMJA and the snatch r=0.96 r2= 0.92, clean and jerk r=0.96 r2= 0.92, back squat r=0.97 r2= 0.94 and deadlift r=0.93 r2= 0.86; CMJ with hands on the hips and the snatch r=0.93 r2= 0.86, clean and jerk r= 0.93 r2= 0.86, back squat r= 0.95 r2= 0.90 and deadlift r= 0.94 r2= 0.88; for the SJA and the snatch r=0.8 r2= 0.64, clean and jerk r=0.81 r2= 0.65, back squat r=0.82 r2= 0.67 and deadlift r=0.78 r2= 0.60; for the SJ with hands on the hips and the snatch r= 0.76 r2= 0.57, clean and jerk r= 0.75 r2= 0.56, back squat r= 0.77 r2= 0.59 and deadlift r= 0.71 r2= 0.50. Significant correlation coefficients were not found for 1 RM in the snatch, clean and jerk, back squat and deadlift and the CMJ or SJ with and without arm swing in any of the following parameters: jump height (m), relative force (% of body weight), relative power output (W/kg of body weight).CONCLUSION The main finding is that the jump height (m) of the CMJ or SJ with or without arm swing did not correlate significantly with 1 RM in the snatch, clean and jerk, back squat and deadlift. Therefore, jump height measurement can be used as a motivation tool but not to predict maximum strength in Olympic bar exercises, or vice versa. We recommend using the average power output (W) parameter in the CMJ with using arms as a predictor of current performance level in exercises with an Olympic bar for men and women.Key words: snatch, clean and jerk, squat, deadlift, countermovement jump, squat jump

The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of selected factors (possession duration, game quarter, defensive pressure, shooting distance from the basket, and heart rate level) on shooting efficiency on Under-19 (U19) and senior level of women’s basketball competition (second division). The analysis procedures included five U19 and six senior-level games, containing 224 and 252 shooting attempts, respectively. Binary logistic regression identified the opponent’s defensive pressure and shooting distance from the basket as significant predictors of shooting efficiency in both categories. When defensive pressure was high, the chance for the missed shot was 3.5 (95% CI; 1.43–8.52) and 3.19 (95% CI; 1.4–7.26) times more likely than it was under the minimum defensive pressure for U19 and senior category, respectively. Shooting efficiency significantly decreased when the horizontal distance from the basket increased. In U19, a chance for a missed shot was 4.63 (95% CI; 2–10.712) and 5.15 (95% CI; 1.91–13.86) times higher for medium and long-distance (respectively), compared to short-range shooting. In the senior category, the chance for the missed shot was 3.9 (95% CI; 1.83–8.31) and 3.27 (95% CI; 1.43–7.52) times higher for medium and long-distance (respectively) when compared to a short distance. The possession duration, game quarter, and heart rate level were identified as insignificant predictors. Therefore, the aforementioned findings suggest that basketball players and coaches may benefit from designing training sessions where the defender puts pressure on the shooting player as in a real game situation and balanced the frequency of shooting from different distances from the basket.

Purpose: Change of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility (RAG) are important qual-ities in futsal, but studies rarely examined the predictors of these conditioning capacities in players of advanced level. This study aimed to evaluate predictive validity of certain an-thropometric and conditioning capacities in evaluation of futsal specific CODS and RAG in top-level players. Methods: The sample comprised 54 male players from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of teams competing at the highest national rank, including national champions for the 2017–2018 competitive season in both countries. The variables comprised set of pre-dictors (body mass, body height, triceps skinfold, reactive strength index [RSI], sprint 10 m [S10M], and broad jump [BJ]; and four criteria: futsal specific CODS and RAG, performed with and without dribbling (CODS_D, CODS_WD, RAG_D, RAG_WD). To identify the asso-ciation between variables Pearson’s correlation and multiple regressions were calculated. Results: Observed predictors explained statistically significant (p < 0.05) percentage of vari-ance for all four criteria (Rsq: 0.28, 0.30, 0.23 and 0.25, for CODS_WD, CODS_D, RAG_WD, RAG_D, respectively). Body mass was significant predictor for all criteria (Beta: 0.35–0.51), with poorer performances in heavier players. In both performances which involved dribbling, significant predictors was RSI (Beta: −0.27 and −0.31 for CODS_D and RAG_D, respective-ly), with superior performances in players with better RSI. The S10M and BJ were not identi-fied as being significantly correlated to studied RAG and CODS performances. Conclusion: Study confirmed specific influence of studied predictors of futsal specific CODS and RAG with consistent negative influence of body mass on studied performances. Almost certainly this can be explained by specifics of RAG and CODS execution. Specifically, tests are performed over relatively small distances, with several changes of direction, which clear-ly mimic the futsal specific performances. Although sprint performance is often observed as important determinant of CODS and RAG, herein we did not confirm its predictive validity in explanation of futsal specific CODS and RAG. Future studies should evaluate other poten-tially important predictors of these capacities in futsal.

Vencúrik, T., Nykodým, J., & Struhár, I. (2015). Heart Rate Response to Game Load of U19 Female Basketball Players. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(Proc1), pp.S410-S417. The aim of the study is to compare the intensity of game load between player positions (guards, forwards, centers) and between the 1 st and the 2 nd half of the basketball games in female category U19. Ten female basketball players (17.6 ± 0.9 years old) participated in this study. The beep test was used to determine the maximal heart rate (HRmax) and based on the HRmax the four intensity zones were set (< 75%, 75-84%, 85-95%, > 95% of HRmax). The heart rate (HR) and its development during the competition were monitored by telemetric device Suunto Team Pack. We did not record any statistical significance among player positions in particular intensity zones, nor in % of HRmax (86 ± 2.8 vs. 88.3 ± 2.9 vs. 87.7 ± 3.3; guards vs. forwards vs. centers). Moreover, when we compared the 1st and the 2nd half, of individual games, in particular zones and in % of HRmax (87.8 ± 3 vs. 86.8 ± 3.1) we also did not record any statistical significance. The female basketball players spent 74.3% of total time with HR greater than 85% of HRmax which indicates high physiological demands during the competition on all player positions. The results can be used for comparison with the intensity of training load and for optimizing the training process.