RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHANGE OF DIRECTION SPEED, LINEAR SPEED AND LOWER LIMB POWER OF YOUNG BASKETBALL MALE PLAYERS

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study was to identify the relationship between change of direction speed, jumping ability (lower limb power) and linear sprint performance in elite young (< 16 years) male basketball players. Method. A total of 149 basketball players, (mean age: 14.2±1.05, range 11–16), from four basketball clubs from the NW part of Romania, have participated in this study. To evaluate the performance in change of direction speed we used three tests (4x10m, 505m. and T test modified), for lower limb power we used also three tests (standing long jump, countermovement jumps and vertical reactive power) and for linear sprint speed we used 20 meters test. Results. It was found that a strong and moderate correlation among all the tests included in our research. For change of direction performance (COD_505), the correlation was strong in relation to 20m in the U14 and U16 categories and moderated in relation to 20m in U12 category and to SLJ, CMJ f.a, VRP in all categories. For change of direction performance (COD_4x10m_agility_shuttle), the correlation was strong in relation to 20m and CMJ f.a in all categories, with SLJ in U12, U16 and with VRP in U14 and moderated in relation to SLJ in U14 and with VRP in U12, U16 categories. For change of direction performance (COD_T_test_20m._modified), the correlation was moderated in relation to 20m, SLJ, CMJ f.a, VRP in all categories. Conclusion. The change of direction performance is related to important physical capacities for young basketball players, such as linear sprints and lower limb power. Thus, the change of direction performance.

Keywords

• change of direction speed
• lower limb power
• linear speed
• basketball