In-Season Physical and Physiological Variations in Junior Basketball: A Longitudinal Analysis
Source abstract
Abstract
This longitudinal study aimed to examine the in-season variations in morphological, cardiorespiratory, muscular, and motor fitness components in junior male basketball players during an 8-month competitive season. Eighteen male basketball players (16.56 ± 0.90 years) were tested at three time points (T1, T2, T3). Assessed variables included body fat (BF), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM), total body water (TBW), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), final running speed in the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (VIFT), maximum and average heart rate (HRmax, HRavg), squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJmax), drop jump (DJ), 20 m sprint with 5 m and 10 m splits, T-test (TT), and Lane Agility Drill (LAD). Significant improvements were observed in body mass (T1–T3, p = 0.002; T2–T3, p = 0.039), along with reductions in BF (T1–T2 and T1–T3, p < 0.05) and increases in FFM and MM (especially T2–T3, p < 0.05). VO2max increased significantly from T1 to T2 and T3 (p < 0.01), while HRaverage decreased across all intervals (p < 0.001), and HRmax declined slightly from T1 to T3 (p = 0.031). VIFT improved significantly between T1 and both T2 and T3 (p < 0.001). Measures of explosive strength (SJ, CMJmax, DJ) and agility (TT, LAD) showed consistent improvement across the season (p < 0.001), with moderate gains from T2 to T3 (p < 0.01 for SJ). These findings suggest meaningful physical and physiological adaptations during the competitive season, highlighting the importance of structured and continuous training throughout critical phases of athletic development in junior basketball players.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Sports Performance and Training · Genetics and Physical Performance · Sports and Physical Education Research
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of East Sarajevo, 71123 Istočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Pristina, 43500 Leposavic, Serbia
Department of Physical Education and Sports Performance, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania
Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Spiru Haret University of Bucharest, 041905 Bucharest, Romania
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Physical Education of Sports Teaching Department, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurum, Türkiye
Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania
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