The importance and development of ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills in basketball players for different positions

ABSTRACT

This study first investigated the importance of ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills in achieving the elite level in basketball. The second aim was to gain insight into the development of, and association between ball control and (self-reported) self-regulatory skills that contribute to achieving the elite level, with taking into account positional differences. Talented male players (N = 73; age 16.56 ± 1.96) completed the STARtest to measure ball control and a questionnaire to measure (self-reported) self-regulation from 2008–2012. Results showed that (self-reported) reflective skills were most important to achieve the elite level (OR = 11.76; P < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in (self-reported) reflection over time for guards, forwards, and centers. Improvement in ball control was evident for guards (r = −0.65; P < 0.05). Furthermore, guards and forwards had better ball control compared to centers (P < 0.01). For those two positions, negative correlations were found between (self-reported) reflection and ball control, i.e., higher reflection was related to better ball control (guards r = −0.19; forwards r = −0.18) in contrast to centers (r = 0.34). It is concluded that (self-reported) reflective skills are important to achieve the elite level, while ball control seems especially important for guards.

KEYWORDS:

• Talent development
• self-regulation
• adolescence
• performance
• sport

Acknowledgements

Authors like to thank all players, coaches, and trainers of the basketball club GasTerra Flames and RTC (the Dutch basketball academy) for their cooperation. We also would like to thank all sport science students who assisted in collecting the data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.