Agility, Explosive Power, Sprint Performance
Conditions
Keywords
Repeated Sprint Training, Change of Direction, Basketball Players, Youth Athletes, Athletic Performance, Sprint Training, Agility Training, Explosive Strength
Brief summary
This randomized controlled study investigated the effects of a six-week change-of-direction repeated sprint training program on lower-limb explosive power and agility in youth basketball players. Repeated sprint ability and rapid changes of direction are essential physical performance components in basketball, as the sport requires frequent accelerations, decelerations, and multidirectional movements during gameplay. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group performed a structured change-of-direction repeated sprint training program in addition to their regular basketball training, while the control group continued their usual basketball training routines without the additional intervention. The training intervention lasted six weeks. Before and after the intervention period, participants completed a series of performance tests designed to evaluate lower-limb explosive power and agility. These assessments allowed researchers to determine whether the additional sprint training program produced improvements beyond those achieved through routine basketball training. The findings of this study aim to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of change-of-direction repeated sprint training as a practical conditioning strategy for improving physical performance in youth basketball players.
Detailed description
Basketball is characterized by intermittent high-intensity actions such as sprinting, jumping, rapid accelerations, decelerations, and frequent changes of direction. These movement patterns place considerable demands on athletes' explosive power and agility. Therefore, training methods designed to improve repeated sprint ability and multidirectional speed are considered important components of basketball conditioning programs. Change-of-direction repeated sprint training combines short-distance sprinting with rapid directional changes, simulating the movement demands commonly observed during basketball competition. Despite the practical relevance of this training approach, limited experimental evidence exists regarding its effects on lower-limb explosive power and agility in youth basketball players. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of a six-week change-of-direction repeated sprint training program on physical performance parameters in youth basketball players. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Both groups continued their regular basketball training programs, while the experimental group additionally performed a structured repeated sprint training program incorporating directional changes. Performance assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period to evaluate lower-limb explosive power and agility. These assessments enabled the comparison of pre- and post-intervention performance changes between groups. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the development of evidence-based training strategies for improving physical performance in youth basketball athletes.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALChange-of-Direction Repeated Sprint Training
Change-of-direction repeated sprint training performed three times per week for six weeks in addition to regular basketball training. The program consisted of maximal sprints over distances ranging from 20 to 40 meters organized in 2 to 4 sets with 4 to 8 repetitions. Passive rest periods of 30 seconds were provided between repetitions and 4 minutes between sets.
Sponsors
Inonu University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Masking description
Due to the nature of the exercise training intervention, blinding of participants and researchers was not feasible.
Intervention model description
Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group performing change-of-direction repeated sprint training in addition to regular basketball training or to a control group continuing their routine basketball training without additional sprint-based exercises.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male basketball players aged 18-19 years * At least three years of basketball training experience * Regular participation in team basketball training sessions * Voluntary participation and provision of written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Any musculoskeletal injury that could affect physical performance * Failure to attend training sessions or testing procedures during the study period * Withdrawal from the study before completion of the intervention
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Countermovement Jump Height | Baseline and 6 weeks | Countermovement jump (CMJ) height will be measured in centimeters using an electronic jump mat system. Participants will perform two trials and the best performance will be recorded. |
| Squat Jump Height | Baseline and 6 weeks | Squat jump (SJ) height will be measured in centimeters using an electronic jump mat system. Participants will perform two trials and the best performance will be recorded. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint Performance (30-m sprint test) | Baseline and 6 weeks | Sprint performance will be assessed using a 30-meter sprint test. Sprint time will be recorded in seconds using an electronic timing system. Each participant will perform two trials and the best performance will be used for analysis. |
| Agility Performance (T-Agility Test) | Baseline and 6 weeks | Agility performance will be evaluated using the T-Agility Test. Participants will complete the test course as quickly as possible and completion time will be recorded in seconds using an electronic timing system. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed