Speed and agility in youth basketball players, effects of using the ball

Driving the basketball during the physical protocols is an approach to sports specificity. The objective of the work is: to compare results of the speed and agility test of young basketball players, with and without driving the ball. Young basketball players from local competitions in Bogota DC participated, (n=41) aged 13-14, height 164.5 +/- 10.1 cm, weight 53.6 +/- 11.7 kg and fat mass 18.3 +/- 6.2%. 20-meter speed tests and a new agility test were carried out. Each test was performed twice with the ball driving and twice without driving the ball. Model WL34-R240 reflex-type infrared light high-speed photocells were used. Descriptive statistics were performed that included the mean, standard error of measurement, 95% confidence interval, and standard deviation for all the variables evaluated in all the participants. The residual mean differences and agreement for each test were then plotted using a Bland-Altman plot. The concordance was considered high: both for speed (average bias = 0.32 SD= 0.28 t= 7.230 p <= 0.001) and agility (average bias= 0.46 SD= 0.43 t = 6.737 p <= 0.001) in the comparison of tests carried out with the ball driving and without driving the ball. It was concluded that: the level of concordance was high. The use of the element is recommended in speed and agility tests in young basketball players. On the other hand, dribbling is demonstrated as a fundamental element of basketball.