Individualization of Intensity Thresholds on External Workload Demands in Women’s Basketball by K-Means Clustering: Differences Based on the Competitive Level

In previous studies found in the literature speed (SP), acceleration (ACC), deceleration (DEC), and impact (IMP) zones have been created according to arbitrary thresholds without considering the specific workload profile of the players (e.g., sex, competitive level, sport discipline). The use of statistical methods based on raw data could be considered as an alternative to be able to individualize these thresholds. The study purposes were to: (a) individualize SP, ACC, DEC, and IMP zones in two female professional basketball teams; (b) characterize the external workload profile of 5 vs. 5 during training sessions; and (c) compare the external workload according to the competitive level (first vs. second division). Two basketball teams were recorded during a 15-day preseason microcycle using inertial devices with ultra-wideband indoor tracking technology and microsensors. The zones of external workload variables (speed, acceleration, deceleration, impacts) were categorized through k-means clusters. Competitive level differences were analyzed with Mann–Whitney’s U test and with Cohen’s d effect size. Five zones were categorized in speed (<2.31, 2.31–5.33, 5.34–9.32, 9.33–13.12, 13.13–17.08 km/h), acceleration (<0.50, 0.50–1.60, 1.61–2.87, 2.88–4.25, 4.26–6.71 m/s2), deceleration (<0.37, 0.37–1.13, 1.14–2.07, 2.08–3.23, 3.24–4.77 m/s2), and impacts (<1, 1–2.99, 3–4.99, 5–6.99, 7–10 g). The women’s basketball players covered 60–51 m/min, performed 27–25 ACC-DEC/min, and experienced 134–120 IMP/min. Differences were found between the first and second division teams, with higher values in SP, ACC, DEC, and IMP in the first division team (p < 0.03; d = 0.21–0.56). In conclusion, k-means clustering can be considered as an optimal tool to categorize intensity zones in team sports. The individualization of external workload demands according to the competitive level is fundamental for designing training plans that optimize sports performance and reduce injury risk in sport.

Instrumento para mensuração do conhecimento tático declarativo no basquetebol feminino: validade de conteúdo da versão preliminar (Instrument for measurement of declarative tactical knowledge in women's basketball: validity of preliminary version content

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar as evidências de validade de conteúdo de cenas de vídeo extraídas de partidas oficiais de basquetebol para a construção da versão preliminar do Instrumento para Mensurar o Conhecimento Tático Declarativo para Basquetebol Feminino (IMCTD-BF). Editou-se, para o processo de validação de conteúdo, 70 cenas extraídas de jogos entre equipes que disputaram o LBF (Liga de Basquete Feminina). As cenas passaram pela análise de cinco peritos, treinadores (as) de basquetebol, nos quesitos: clareza da imagem, pertinência prática e representatividade do item. Calculou-se o Coeficiente de Validade do Conteúdo (CVC) para verificar a concordância entre os peritos, sendo o ponto de corte .80. Encontrou-se valores de CVC de .956 para clareza da imagem, .997 para pertinência prática e .960 para representatividade do item. Os procedimentos de validade ecológica e a concordância entre peritos, referentes à tomada de decisão e ao tipo de ataque, resultaram na seleção de 38 cenas. Conclui-se que foi possível construir a versão preliminar do IMCTD-BF a partir de 38 cenas que apresentaram evidências de validade de conteúdo. Abstract. The aim of the study was to verify the evidence of content validity of video scenes extracted from official basketball matches for the construction of the preliminary version of the Instrument to Measure Declarative Tactical Knowledge for Women's Basketball (IMCTD-BF). For the content validation process, 70 scenes extracted from games between teams that competed in the LBF (Women's Basketball League) were edited. The scenes were analyzed by five experts, basketball coaches, in the following items: clarity of the image, practical relevance and representativeness of the item. The Content Validity Coefficient (CVC) was calculated to verify the agreement between experts, with a cutoff point of .80. CVC values ​​of .956 were found for image clarity, .997 for practical relevance and .960 for item representativeness. The ecological validity procedures and the agreement between experts, regarding decision-making and the type of attack, resulted in the selection of 38 scenes. It is concluded that it was possible to build the preliminary version of the IMCTD-BF from 38 scenes that presented evidence of content validity. Resumem. El objetivo del estudio fue verificar la evidencia de validez de contenido de escenas de video extraídas de partidos oficiales de baloncesto para la construcción de la versión preliminar del Instrumento para Medir el Conocimiento Táctico Declarativo para el Baloncesto Femenino (IMCTD-BF). Para el proceso de validación de contenido se editaron 70 escenas extraídas de partidos entre equipos que compitieron en la LBF (Liga de Baloncesto Femenino). Las escenas fueron analizadas por cinco expertos, entrenadores de baloncesto, en los ítems: claridad de imagen, relevancia práctica y representatividad del ítem. Se calculó el Coeficiente de Validez de Contenido (CVC) para verificar la concordancia entre expertos, con un punto de corte de .80. Se encontraron valores CVC de .956 para claridad de imagen, .997 para relevancia práctica y .960 para representatividad de ítems. Los procedimientos de validez ecológica y el acuerdo entre expertos, en cuanto a la toma de decisiones y el tipo de atentado, dieron como resultado la selección de 38 escenas. Se concluye que fue posible construir la versión preliminar del IMCTD-BF a partir de 38 escenas que presentaban evidencia de validez de contenido.

Automation of Basketball Match Data Management

Despite the fact that sport plays a substantial role in people’s lives, funding varies significantly from one discipline to another. For example, in Poland, women’s basketball in the lower divisions, is primarily developing thanks to enthusiasts. The aim of the work was to design and implement a system for analyzing match protocols containing data about the match. Particular attention was devoted to the course of the game, i.e., the order of scoring points. This type of data is not typically stored on the official websites of basketball associations but is significant from the point of view of coaches. The obtained data can be utilized to analyze the team’s game during the season, the quality of players, etc. In terms of obtaining data from match protocols, a dedicated algorithm for identifying the table was used, while a neural network was utilized to recognize the numbers (with 70% accuracy). The conducted research has shown the proposed system is well suited for data acquisition based on match protocols what implies the possibility of increasing the availability of data on the games. This will allow the development of this sport discipline. Obtained conclusions can be generalized to other disciplines, where the games are recorded in paper form.

Vertical Jump in National Volleyball-Basketball Team’s Women's in Albania

Volleyball and Basketball women’s have different performances from each other due to their special specifics of the game. From the specificity of their training, there are differences in the physical qualities of individual and team sports performance, where one of the elements is vertical jumping. This study is concentrated on two teams: Women’s Volleyball Team (V) and Women’s Basketball Team (B) 15 members each, focusing on 30 subjects. Players were measured in physical parameters; Age (V-24: B-27), Body Height (V-180.4cm; B-173.4cm), Body Weight (V-70.37kg; B-63.88kg), BMI (V-21.67 percent; B-20.93 percent). The players performed the test DJ60cm in the platform Leonardo® Ground Force Reaction Plate (GRFP) which expresses Force max (kN), Power max (w/kg), Time Contact (TCs), Air Time (TAs), TA/TCs. The results obtained by GRFP showed different team values of the two sports in the parameters of Fmax V65.19-B74.07n/kg, Pmax V31.26-B23.06w/kg, TCs V0.231-B0.198, TAs V0.436-B0.34 and TA/TCѕec V1.96ѕ-B1.71ѕec. Results revealed that V players jumped higher (p, 0.001) than B players. Finally, the Drop Jump60cm test has different performance between individual players, despite the fact that in the team average it turned out that Volleyball players is higher in this test. Drop Jump is the typical plyometric test. Furthermore, tests such as DJ can be a useful method for assessing differences and monitoring vertical jump training programs from collective sports.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball: 2014–2015 Through 2018–2019

Context Frequent inspection of sports-related injury epidemiology among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women's basketball student-athletes is valuable for identifying injury-related patterns. Background Emerging patterns in epidemiology of NCAA women's basketball injuries are unknown though general sports medicine practices, and playing rules and regulations have evolved in recent years. Methods Athlete exposures (AEs) and injury incidence data were reported to the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program between 2014–2015 and 2018–2019. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to examine injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios (IRRs) were used to assess injury rate differences. Results Practice and competition injury rates were 5.93 and 10.35 per 1000 AEs, respectively. Preseason injury rates were higher than regular (IRR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.31, 1.53) and postseason (IRR = 3.12; 95% CI = 2.39, 4.07). Ankle sprains (14.3%), concussions (7.5%), and anterior cruciate ligament tears (2.5%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Summary Higher rates of practice and competition injuries, as well as ankle sprains, were observed relative to previous reports; continuous monitoring is necessary to identify potential contributing factors to these trends.

Multi-Location External Workload Profile in Women’s Basketball Players. A Case Study at the Semiprofessional-Level

The external workload measured in one anatomical location does not determine the total load supported by the human body. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to characterize the multi-location external workload through PlayerLoadRT of 13 semi-professional women’s basketball players, as well as to analyze differences among anatomical locations (inter-scapulae line, lumbar region, 2× knee, 2× ankle) and laterality (left vs. right) during five tests that represent the most common movements in basketball—(a) linear locomotion, 30-15 IFT; (b) acceleration and deceleration, 16.25-m RSA (c) curvilinear locomotion, 6.75-m arc (d) jump, Abalakov test (e) small-sided game, 10’ 3 vs. 3 10 × 15-m. Statistical analysis was composed of a repeated-measures t-test and eta partial squared effect size. Regarding laterality, differences were found only in curvilinear locomotion, with a higher workload in the outer leg (p < 0.01; ηp2 = 0.33–0.63). In the vertical profile, differences among anatomical locations were found in all tests (p < 0.01; ηp2 = 0.56–0.98). The nearer location to ground contact showed higher values except between the scapulae and lumbar region during jumps (p = 0.83; ηp2 = 0.00). In conclusion, the multi-location assessment of external workload through a previously validated test battery will make it possible to understand the individual effect of external workload in each anatomical location that depends on the type of locomotion. These results should be considered when designing specific strategies for training and injury prevention.

THE GAME MODEL OF PLAYERS POSITIONS POINT GUARD (POSITION 1), SHOOTING GUARD OR SMALL FORWARD (POSITIONS 2 AND 3) IN THE COMPETITIVE YEAR 2018 - 2019 OF THE ROMANIAN NATIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

In this paper, we will make a fact-finding study on the game model of peripheral players in the 2018- 2019 competition year, a more objective analysis of the performance of the players and the team. The main task of the study was to study the parameters of the game model of the players who work in the positions of point guard (position 1), shooting guard or small forward (position 2 and 3) and to detach their characteristic elements. If the values of the parameters of the game model recorded for the basketball players by positions are known, objective assessments can be made on their value and evolution. There is a poor training of peripheral players in terms of the accuracy of the basket throws but also a large number of lost balls. All these aspects indicate a low level of physical and technical-tactical training of the peripheral players. This study provides general information on the level of performance and to improve it, detailed studies should be conducted, in particular on the training content of these players

Modeling the Keys to Team’s Success in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association

The technical characteristics of women’s basketball may differ from men’s basketball, and there is a need to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that contribute to the success of women’s teams. The aim of the current study was to examine and quantify the relationships between technical performance indicators and match outcome in elite women’s basketball using both linear and non-linear statistical methods, the effectiveness of the two methods was compared as well. A total of 136 matches (n = 272 teams’ observations) in the regular season of Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA; season 2020–2021) were analyzed using multiple linear regression (MLR) and quantile regression (QR). Results showed that two-point percentage, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers had significant effects on the match outcome for both MLR and QR analysis. No significant relationships were observed between match outcome and three-point percentage, steals, and fouls. The results between MLR and QR analysis were different in free-throw percentage, defensive rebounds and blocks. Current results highlighted QR analysis is an advanced statistical model more powerful than the traditional linear method for the identification of KPIs. The identified KPIs may help coaches to develop more specific training interventions and match strategies during match play.