Influence of Two Different Competition Models on Physical Performance in Under-13 Basketball Players: Analysis Considering Maturity Timing

Abstract

The rules of team sport have been influenced by professional competitions without considering all the factors that differentiate children and adolescents from adults. The aim of this study was to analyse the performance of kinematic variables in two different types of tournaments and the influence of somatic maturation on performance in young basketball players. Thirty-seven under-13 male basketball players (age = 12.91 ± 0.57 years) were selected by four southeast Spanish teams to participate in two different tournaments. On the first day, the tournament was played according to the rules of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) for under-14 players, and on the second day, the tournament was played according to modified rules (Modified Tournament). In this tournament, the height of the basket was lowered to 2.90 m; the three-point line was a rectangle that was 4 m from the basket.The following kinematic variables were analysed: Acceleration (n), Deceleration (n), Maximum Acceleration Speed (km/h), Maximum Deceleration Speed (km/h), Acceleration Meters Covered (m), Deceleration Meters Covered (m), Number of Sprints (n), Sprint Meters Covered (m), Maximum Sprint Speed, and Player Load (n). The results showed no significant differences in player performance between the tournaments. However, significant differences in performance (p < 0.05) were found in players at different stages of maturation. Early maturity players showed the best performance in the kinematic variables in both tournaments; because of this, there should be a modification of the rules and organisation of competitions by bio-banding. It can be concluded that there were no significant differences in the kinematic variables between the two tournaments. However, when comparing maturation timing, there tends to be a group effect.