THE INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS ON THE AGILITY ABILITIES OF 14 YEAR-OLD ELITE MALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS

• Published in: Facta Universitatis Series Physical Education and Sport Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 141 - 149
• Main Authors: Jakovljevic, S, Karalejic, M, Pajic, Z, Gardasevic, B, Mandic, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2011
• ISSN: 1451-740X

The aims of this study were: a) to identify the anthropometric characteristics and agility abilities of 14 year-old elite male basketball players, and b) to investigate the influence of anthropometric characteristics on agility test results. The following 11 anthropometric variables were measured on a sample of 50 young basketball players, age 14,: four longitudinal measures, two transversal measures, body mass, four circumferences, six skinfolds and, also, 2 derived variables: the body mass index - BMI, and sum of skinfolds - SUM SKF (predictor variables). In addition, the participants carried out 3 agility tests: the agility T-test, zigzag agility drill and 4x15 m agility run (dependent variables). For the assessment of the influence of predictor variables on the dependent variables, a regressive analysis, the Stepwise method, was applied. The results of three regression analyses indicate a moderate, but significant influence of anthropometric variables on agility test results. Longitudinal and transversal measures, body mass, and circumferences had no influence on agility tests results. Only SUM SKF had a significant influence. This variable was extracted during the first step in all three regression analyses, and the circumference of the mid-upper-arm was extracted during the second step in the case of the dependent variable zigzag agility drill.Original Abstract: Ciljevi ove studije su bili: a) identifikovati antropometrijske karakteristike i karakteristike agilnosti mladih elitnih kosarkasa uzrasta od 14 godina, b) ispitati uticaj antropometrijskih karakteristika na rezultate u testovima agilnosti. Na uzorku od 50 mladih kosarksa, uzrasta od 14 godina, izmereno je 11 antropometrijskih varijabli: cetiri longitudinalne mere, dve transverzalne mere, telesna masa, cetiri obima, sest koznih nabora, kao i dve izvedene varijable: indek telesne mase - BMI I suma koznih nabora - SUM SKF (prediktorske varijable). Takode su primenjena i tri testa agilnosti: test agilnosti T-test, test cik-cak u reketu and test trcanje 4x15 m (zavisne varijable). U odredivanju uticaja prediktorskih varijabli na zavisne varijable primenjena je regresiona analiza - Stepwise metod. Rezultati triju regresionih analiza govore o umerenom ali znacajnom uticaju antropometrijskih varijabli na rezultate u testovima agilnosti. Longitudinalne i transverzalne mere, telesna masa i obimi, nemaju znacajan uticaj na rezultate testova agilnosti. Samo varijabla SUM SKF ima znacajan uticaj i to negativan. Ova varijabla je ekstrahovana u prvom koraku u sve tri regresione analize, dok je kod zavisne varijable cik-cak u reketu u drugom koraku ekstrahovana i varijabla obim nadlaktice.