A Battery of Tests Used to Evaluate the Abilities of Young Basketball Players

Abstract

Team success in basketball is related to knowing basketball techniques and tactics, along with certain abilities and characteristics of the players. Several different batteries of tests are used to examine the players' current psycho-physical state needed for the successful planning of the training processes. To determine the players' psycho-physical condition, relevant data are used, based on the results of tests of morphological, motor, cognitive, conative, functional and sociological characteristics and abilities. The aim of the current research was to present a battery of tests used to evaluate the abilities and characteristics of young basketball players, aged 12 to 19, identified following an analysis of published scientific research. The following electronic databases were used to collect recent research: PubMed, J-GATE, DOAJ and Google Scholar. The analyzed works were published from 2007 to 2018. The results show that the most frequent means of measurement in research involving young players, were batteries of tests which included different types of vertical jumps used to examine explosive power. Other tests that were used are tests for the evaluation of morphological characteristics, aerobic endurance, anaerobic capacity, agility, coordination, and speed of recovery after intensive acyclic activity in basketball. Taking these findings into account, it is clear that modern basketball is characterized by important variations in the movement, morphological status, and physiological demands of the players, all of which are conditioned by the players' positions on the team. The results and analysis of those tests are important for creating a quality basketball player profile in all parts of the game.