Is the inside pass a performance indicator? : Observational analysis of elite basketball teams

The purposes of this study were: 1) to analyse the influence of inside pass on the basketball offensive success and 2) to detect the influence of both passer and receiver location, and the receiver immediate action on successful inside pass. The sample was 1324 attack phases of nine games of the 2012 Euroleague Playoff. All recorded matches were analysed by four observers. Observational methodology was used through a follow-up, ideographic, and multidimensional design approach. An ad-hoc instrument was developed in order to obtain behaviour systematic registration. For the first aim, analysed criteria were: 1) offensive effectiveness, 2) shooting zone, 3) total points scored by attack phase, 4) possession duration and 5) number of passes. For the second one: 1) passer location, 2) receiver location, and 3) immediate receiver action were registered for each inside pass attack. Multirater k free index (Randolph, 2005) was used to measure inter-observers agreement, obtaining a value over .84 in each case. In addition, intraobservers reproducibility was evaluated at the end of the observation process by calculating Cohen's Kappa, obtaining a minimum value of .90. For statistical data analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, crosstabs, Chi-square and multinomial logistic regression were carried on. The finding results show that a) those attack phase in which inside pass is done are more effective and achieve a larger amount of points, and b) passer location and immediate receiver action determinate a successful inside pass, being the outside pass with an inside reception the most effective option. These results suggest to consider the inside pass as a performance indicator in basketball.Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: 1) analizar la influencia del pase interior en el éxito del ataque y 2) detectar si la localización espacial de pasador y receptor, y la acción motriz inmediata del receptor afectan sobre el rendimiento del pase interior. Cuatro observadores analizaron un total de nueve partidos de Playoff de la Euroliga 2012, obteniendo un total de 1324 fases de ataque. Se utilizó la metodología observacional a través de un diseño de seguimiento, ideográfico y multimiensional. Se elaboró un instrumento ad-hoc para lograr un registro sistemático de las conductas de juego. Para el primer objetivo se incluyeron los siguientes criterios para cada fase de ataque: 1) eficacia ofensiva, 2) zona de lanzamiento, 3) total de puntos anotados en la fase de ataque, 4) tiempo de posesión y 5) número de pases. Para el segundo objetivo se analizó, en aquellas fases de ataque con pase interior: 1) localización espacial del pasador, 2) localización espacial del receptor y 3) acción inmediata del receptor. Se comprobó la fiabilidad interobservadores mediante el ́indice multirater k free (Randolph, 2005), obteniendo un valor por encima de .84 en cada variable. Al final del proceso se evaluó la concordancia intraobservadores mediante el Kappa de Cohen, obteniendo un valor mínimo de .90. Para el análisis estadístico se calcularon la U de Mann-Whitney, tablas de contingencia, Chi-cuadrado y regresión logística multinomial. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que 1) aquellas fases de ataque en las que se realiza el pase interior resultan más efectivas y obtienen una mayor cantidad de puntos, y 2) la localización espacial del pasador y la acción inmediata del receptor resultan determinantes en la eficacia del pase interior, siendo el pase exterior con recepción interior la opción con mayores garantías de éxito. Éstos resultados sugieren la consideración del pase interior como un indicador de rendimiento en baloncesto.Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1) analisar a influência do passe interior no sucesso do ataque e 2) detectar se a localização espacial do passador e do receptor, bem como a ação motora imediata do receptor afetam o rendimento do passe interior. Quatro observadores analisaram um total de nove jogos nos playoffs da Euroliga 2012, obtendo um total de 1324 fases de ataque. Utilizou-se a metodologia observacional através de um delineamento de monitorização, ideográfico e multidimensional. Foi elaborado um instrumento ad-hoc para o registo sistemático de comportamentos de jogo. Para o primeiro objetivo foram incluídos os seguintes critérios para cada fase do ataque: 1) eficácia ofensiva, 2) zona de lançamento, 3) total de pontos marcados na fase de ataque, 4) tempo de posse e 5) número de passes. Para o segundo objetivo foram analisadas nas fases de ataque com passe interior: 1) localização espacial do passador, 2) localização espacial do receptor e 3) acção imediata do receptor. Verificou-se a fidelidade interobservadores através do índice multirater k livre (Randolph, 2005), obtendo-se um valor superior a .84 em cada variável. No final do processo avaliou-se a concordância intra-observadores através do Kappa de Cohen, obtendo-se um valor mínimo de .90. Para a análise estatística, foram calculados o U de Mann-Whitney, tabelas de contingência, Qui-quadrado e regressão logística multinomial. Os resultados mostram que 1) aquelas fases de ataque nas quais se realiza o passe interior são mais eficazes, obtendo-se um maior número de pontos, e 2) a localização espacial do passador e a acção imediata do receptor são determinantes na eficácia do passe interior, sendo o passe exterior com a recepção interior a opção com maiores garantias de sucesso. Estes resultados sugerem a consideração do passe interior como um indicador de rendimento no basquetebol

Basketball training influences shot selection assessment : a multi-attribute decision-making approach1

In spite of the fact that shoot selection is a crucial ingredient of performance in basketball, the judgment and decision making processes involved in it have been largely neglected. In the present work, we explore individuals' strategies to assess the adequateness of shooting (in a simulation laboratory task) in situations varying in the degree of physical defensive pressure, rebound, defensive balance and shooting distance. Our results showed that the four target dimensions have an impact on participants' judgments. More importantly, training influences the degree to which one of the non-obvious dimensions (defensive balance) is taken into account by participants in order to make their judgments. These results stress the necessity to develop measures of shot selection decisional quality beyond scoring rates

El efecto diferencial de la instrucción incidental e intencional en el aprendizaje de las condiciones para la decisión de tiro en baloncesto

Discriminative decision rule learning is a core ingredient in many interactive sports. This study presents a laboratory simulation experiment (an adaptation of a Go/No-go task) that focuses on the quantitative analysis of three important environmental determinants of shot selection in basketball: physical opposition, availability of rebound and availability of defensive balance. Our results show that these three criteria are incorporated into decisions at different rates. Moreover, the use of such criteria is differentially sensitive to intentional (vs. incidental) instruction. In practical terms, these results illustrate some of the potential limitations of decision-making training by mere task design, i.e., without the coach's explicit guidance

Participation of Minibasketball players during small-sided competitions

This study presents the differences of competition between mini-basketball with the traditional rules (5-a-side) and minibasket with rule modifications (3-a-side) such as: reduced number of players on court, compulsory participation in 2 of the match's 4 periods, reduced court size, placing the free throw line at 3m from the basket, and including a three-point line. The sample that was selected included 47 mini-basketball players, and the study was carried out using a quasi-experimental design without a control group. The aim was to determine the effect of rule modifications on the participation of the player with the ball. It was demonstrated that the degree of individual participation is greater in mini-basketball with modified rules

Characteristics of the dimensions and sub-dimensions of young basketball players personalities

The aim of the present work is to assess the personality traits of young basketball players aged 16-18 years (n=186) through the description of the dimensions and sub-dimension from the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ) regarding personality. This was a non-experimental study in which a descriptive transversal design was used. The results that were obtained indicate the players in the selected sample are characterized as people who are: a) moderately dynamic, extraverted and dominant; b) moderately altruistic, understanding and tolerant; c) moderately responsible, orderly, and diligent; d) moderately balanced, calm, patient, and able to manage their emotions moderately well; and e) rather uncreative, unimaginative, and not well informed

Effect of a training program on the improvement of basketball players' decision making

The aim of this study was to analyse whether a tactical training program based on a constructivist model can improve decision making related to keeping control of the ball for a men's senior basketball team composed of ten players. The dependent variables were: player distribution around the ball, and achieving support on both sides of the ball at an effective passing distance. Data collection was made through observational analysis utilizing a previously validated tool. A pretest-posttest design without a control group was used. Results demonstrated an improvement in decision making after the posttest for both the number of support players near the player with the ball, as it increased from 85% in the pretest to 100% in the posttest, and the number of collective or team actions around the player with the ball (from 5% to 76.5%) with highly significant differences. The primary conclusion is that a training program for teaching team tactics based on a constructivist model has a positive influence on players' capability to facilitate the pass to their teammates

Relation between the anxiety and performance of an team of basketball during the competition

The aim of the present study was to assess trait and state anxiety in a sample of basketball players and their performance in competition, in addition to comparing players' anxiety when playing against rivals of different levels. The sample was composed of 10 players from a basketball team of the Spanish Amateur Basketball League. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S (STAI-S) was utilized for the evaluation of state and trait anxiety. Performance of the players was measured during two games utilizing the official statistics of the Spanish Basketball Federation (overall rating, which is the sum of total points, rebounds, fouls received, recovered balls, and assists; and the subtraction of missed shots, fouls made, and turnovers; fouls committed; free throw percentage; 2- and 3-point field goal percentages; and points scored). One game was against a rival of high performance level and one was of lower level. The results demonstrated a positive correlation between pre-competitive state anxiety and turnovers and a negative correlation between pre-competitive state anxiety and percentage of two-point field goals. The pre-competitive state anxiety was higher when the rival was higher ranked

Relation between the anxiety and performance of an team of basketball during the competition

The aim of the present study was to assess trait and state anxiety in a sample of basketball players and their performance in competition, in addition to comparing players' anxiety when playing against rivals of different levels. The sample was composed of 10 players from a basketball team of the Spanish Amateur Basketball League. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S (STAI-S) was utilized for the evaluation of state and trait anxiety. Performance of the players was measured during two games utilizing the official statistics of the Spanish Basketball Federation (overall rating, which is the sum of total points, rebounds, fouls received, recovered balls, and assists; and the subtraction of missed shots, fouls made, and turnovers; fouls committed; free throw percentage; 2- and 3-point field goal percentages; and points scored). One game was against a rival of high performance level and one was of lower level. The results demonstrated a positive correlation between pre-competitive state anxiety and turnovers and a negative correlation between pre-competitive state anxiety and percentage of two-point field goals. The pre-competitive state anxiety was higher when the rival was higher ranked

Participation of Minibasketball players during small-sided competitions

This study presents the differences of competition between mini-basketball with the traditional rules (5-a-side) and minibasket with rule modifications (3-a-side) such as: reduced number of players on court, compulsory participation in 2 of the match's 4 periods, reduced court size, placing the free throw line at 3m from the basket, and including a three-point line. The sample that was selected included 47 mini-basketball players, and the study was carried out using a quasi-experimental design without a control group. The aim was to determine the effect of rule modifications on the participation of the player with the ball. It was demonstrated that the degree of individual participation is greater in mini-basketball with modified rules