Time Constraint Increases Mental Load and Influences in the Performance in Small-Sided Games in Basketball

ABSTRACT

Purpose: In team sports like basketball, small-sided games have received much scientific attention because of their capacity to simulate competitive environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of different task constraints on mental load, and its consequences for individual and team performance in basketball small-sided games. Method: Twenty-four university students voluntarily took part in this study (M_age = 20.81 years [± 1.76]). Four different 3 × 3 basketball games were played: (A) free game, (B) seven seconds possession, (C) three passes maximum per attack phase, (D) conditions B and C combined. Results: Statistical analysis showed that constraints B, C and D produce more mental load, provoke differences in the affect response and the performance is worse. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the mental cost of restricting the time and number of passes, separately and combined to decide and act.

KEYWORDS:

• Basketball; constraints; mental load
• performance

Author contribution

D. C., P. C., and F. J. G. conceptualised the research study and its hypotheses. Data collection was performed by P. C., D. A. C., and I. M. I. M. performed the analysis. The manuscript was written and edited by D. C., P.C. and I. M.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a research grant DEP2017-8987-R (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain) to DC and IM. Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación [DEP2017-8987-R].