Effects of Ball Drills and Repeated-Sprint-Ability Training in Basketball Players.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of ball drills and repeated-sprint-ability training during the regular season in basketball players. Methods: A total of 30 players were randomized into 3 groups: ball-drills training (BDT, n\u2009=\u200912, 4\u2009×\u20094\xa0min, 3 vs 3 with 3-min passive recovery), repeated-sprint-ability training (RSAT, n\u2009=\u20099, 3\u2009×\u20096\u2009×\u200920-m shuttle running with 20-s and 4-min recovery), and general basketball training (n\u2009=\u20099, basketball technical/tactical exercises), as control group. Players were tested before and after 8 wk of training using the following tests: V˙O2max , squat jump, countermovement jump, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1\xa0(YIRT1), agility T test, line-drill test, 5-/10-/20-m sprints, and blood lactate concentration. A custom-developed survey was used to analyze players technical skills. Results: After training, significant improvements were seen in YIRT1 (BDT P\u2009=\u2009.014, effect size [ES]\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.8\u2009±\u20090.3; RSAT P\u2009=\u2009.022, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.7\u2009±\u20090.3), the agility T test (BDT P\u2009=\u2009.018, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.7\u2009±\u20090.5; RSAT P\u2009=\u2009.037, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.7\u2009±\u20090.5), and the line-drill test (BDT P\u2009=\u2009.010, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.3\u2009±\u20090.1; RSAT P\u2009<\u2009.0001, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.4\u2009±\u20090.1). In the RSAT group, only 10-m sprint speeds (P\u2009=\u2009.039, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.3\u2009±\u20090.2) and blood lactate concentration (P\u2009=\u2009.004, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.8\u2009±\u20091.1) were improved. Finally, technical skills were increased in BDT regarding dribbling (P\u2009=\u2009.038, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.8\u2009±\u20090.6), shooting (P\u2009=\u2009.036, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.8\u2009±\u20090.8), passing (P\u2009=\u2009.034, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.9\u2009±\u20090.3), rebounding (P\u2009=\u2009.023, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20091.1\u2009±\u20090.3), defense (P\u2009=\u2009.042, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.5\u2009±\u20090.5), and offense (P\u2009=\u2009.044, ES\u2009±\u200990% CI\u2009=\u20090.4\u2009±\u20090.4) skills. Conclusions: BDT and RSAT are both effective in improving the physical performance of basketball players. BDT had also a positive impact on technical skills. Basketball strength and conditioning professionals should include BDT as a routine tool to improve technical skills and physical performance simultaneously throughout the regular training season.