This study evaluated the influence of physical and perceived game demands, menstrual cycle phase, perceived recovery, individual and game-related contextual factors on competitive performance in professional, female basketball players.11 professional female players (age: 20.6 ± 2.7 years) were monitored for game-related statistics (Performance Index Rating, PIR; rebounds, REB; effective field goal %, eFG%; turnovers, TO), objective (PlayerLoad per minute, PL·min^-1) and subjective (RPE) game loads, pre-game perceived recovery (Total Quality Recovery, TQR_pre), menstrual phase (follicular; luteal) and game-related contextual factors (game location; game outcome; score differential; opponent level) during 12 official games. Separate linear mixed models were used to evaluate the influence of RPE, PL·min^-1, TQR_pre, menstrual phase, contextual factors, and individual characteristics (age; playing position) on game-related statistics.Higher PIR and eFG% were found for older players and those who reported higher RPE (all p < 0.05). Higher age also led to less TO (p = 0.042). eFG% was higher when players reported higher TQR_pre ;(p = 0.010). Better shooting (eFG%) and rebounding (REB) performances were found during the follicular menstrual phase (p < 0.05). More REB were collected in won games (p = 0.002).This study suggests that the co-influences of perceptual, menstrual-related, individual and game-related contextual factors should be considered to optimise female basketball players' performance.

This study investigated the effect of block periodization (BP) and traditional periodization (TP) approaches on jumping and sprinting performance in collegiate basketball players during an 8-week pre-season period. Ten collegiate male basketball players (mean±SD; age: 21.5±1.7 years; body mass:...

This study aimed to examine the scoring strategies differentiating between winning and losing teams during FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 in relation to different game scores. Data were gathered for all games of FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 from the official website. The investigated scoring strategies were fast break points (FBP); points in the paint (PP); points from turnover (PT); second chance points (SCP); and points from the bench (PB). Games were classified with cluster analysis based on their score difference as close, balanced, and unbalanced and the differences in the scoring strategies between winning and losing teams were assessed using magnitude-based statistics. Results revealed no substantial differences in FBP in any investigated cluster. Furthermore, winning teams showed a substantially higher number of PP and PT (in close and unbalanced games) and SCP (in balanced and unbalanced games) compared to losing teams. Finally, winning teams scored substantially lower and higher number of BPs in close games and unbalanced games, respectively, compared to losing teams. In conclusion, all the investigated scoring strategies discriminate between winning and losing teams in elite women’s basketball except for FBP. These results provide useful information for basketball coaches to optimize their training sessions and game strategies.

This study aimed to: a) investigate the differences in workload and readiness between two junior female national basketball teams competing at different European Championships (EC); b) compare workload, readiness and match performance for players with longer and shorter playing times, and; c)...

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of active recovery (AR) versus static stretching (SS) during post-exercise recovery in basketball. Methods: Using a counterbalanced crossover design, 17 elite youth male players completed two 90-min training sessions, followed by either AR or SS. Differences in jump height (CMJ), heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), muscle soreness (VAS), perceived recovery (TQR) and hormonal biomarkers (cortisol, testosterone, testosterone:cortisol ratio) between interventions were assessed at pre-session, post-session (except hormonal biomarkers), post-recovery and 24 h post-session. Differences in Ln-rMSSD were additionally assessed upon awakening on training day, and the following morning. Results: No significant differences were found between interventions at corresponding time points (p > .05). However, the within-intervention time course of recovery differed, as CMJ values were lower at post-recovery, compared with all other time points, in SS only (p < .05, effect size [ES] moderate-to-very large). Additionally, Ln-rMSSD values failed to return to baseline at post-recovery in AR only (p < .05, ES large-to-very large). Similarly, TQR scores were impaired at post-session and post-recovery in AR only (p < .05, ES moderate-to-large). No differences were reported for the remaining variables (p > .05). Conclusion: Differences between AR and SS were probably due to short-term phenomena, indicating that neither strategy was likely superior for improving recovery in the longer term. Overall, neither strategy seemed to significantly improve post-exercise recovery.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of foam rolling as a post-match recovery tool in basketball. Using a crossover design, 13 female players completed two simulated matches, followed by foam rolling (FR) or placebo (CON). Countermovement jump height (CMJ), heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), muscle soreness (VAS), perceived recovery (TQR) and fatigue (Rating-of-Fatigue) were recorded at pre-match, post-match, post-recovery and 24 h post-match. No significant effect of time*intervention and intervention were found for any variable (p > 0.05), while a significant effect of time (p < 0.01) was reported for all variables. Post-hoc analyses revealed lower CMJ and Ln-rMSSD at post-match compared with all other time points (p < 0.001), increases in pre-match VAS scores at all subsequent time points (p < 0.01), and worse TQR and Rating-of-Fatigue scores from pre-to-post-match and pre-match-to-post-recovery (p < 0.01), except for unchanged TQR values from pre-match-to-post-recovery in FR (p > 0.05). Overall, the present data suggest that foam rolling was generally ineffective for improving post-exercise recovery in female basketball players after a single match. Future research investigating the effectiveness of foam rolling in players of different sex, age and/or competitive level is warranted to provide further insight on the topic.