The role of growth, maturation and sporting environment on the development of performance and technical and tactical skills in youth basketball players: The INEX study

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we outline a systematic testing programme developed to help identify excellence in youth basketball players. We examine the links between biological maturation and training experience with anthropometry, body composition, physical performance, technical and tactical skills from five age-cohorts, and characterize, in detail, facets of their environment. In total, 238 young basketball players aged 11–15 years, clustered into five age-cohorts (11, 12, 13, 14, 15 years) were recruited. We assessed measures across three domains: (1) biological [anthropometry, body composition, biological maturation and physical performance]; (2) skill/game proficiency [technical skills and tactical skills]; and (3) contextual [family support, coach knowledge and competence and club context]. The data were analysed using one-way ANOVAs and multivariate analysis of covariance adjusting for biological maturation and training experience. We report significant differences favouring older basketball players on most biological and skill/game proficiency variables. However, differences between age-cohorts in physical performance and technical skills were mitigated after controlling for the effects of both covariates. In conclusion, our findings highlight the important role of both biological maturation and training experience on youth basketball players’ performance and development. We discuss the implications of these findings for research as well as for athletes, parents, coaches and clubs.

KEYWORDS:

• Development
• performance
• young players
• basketball
• mixed-longitudinal study

Acknowledgments

We thank all INEX participants - athletes, families, coaches and clubs - as well as all team members: Aarón Civit, Adriano Cerdeira, Alexandra Guimarães, Américo Santos, Ana Araújo, Ana Carolina Reyes, Anemari Azevedo, António Cardoso, Átila Paiva, Bebiana Sabino, Bruno Gomes, Bruno Pinto, Carina Caneppele, Carla Santos, Carlos Ladislau, Clara Silva, Cláudia Dias, Cláudio Santos, Diana Carrito, Diogo Barbosa, Eduardo Santos, Emanuel Chagas, Estella Guedes, Esthefani Moya, Fernando Cardoso, Fernando Garbeloto, Filipa Sousa, Filipe Ferrão, Francisco Albergaria, Gabriela Noivo, Gonçalo Gonçalves, Helder Zimmermann, Ivanna Lima, Joana Cerqueira, Joana Ribeiro Soares, João Araújo, João Ribeiro, Joaquim Pires, José Filipe Santos, Luís Almeida, Maickel Padilha, Marcos André Moura, Maria do Céu Baptista, Mário Moreira, Maryam Abarghouei Nejad, Mayra Paula, Melissa Pereira, Michel Bertani, Norberto Pinto, Nuno Bompastor, Patrícia Ferreira, Pedro da Mota, Pedro Grenha, Pedro Leite, Rafael Bagatin, Rafael Silva, Ricardo Cerqueira, Rojapon Buranarugsa, Sara Ferreira, Sara Pereira, Simão Madureira, Sofia Girão, Sofia Monteiro, Teresa Dias, Teresa Ribeiro, Thayse Gomes, Tiago Fernandes, Tomás Pinto, Tomas Scheiber, and Vicenzo Rago.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1853334.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under grant number [SFRH/BD/138740/2018], endorsed to the first author; Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ) under grant number [CP/594/DD/2018]; and Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP).