Modelling women's team line-ups based on effectiveness and quality.

Understanding how different player rotations may impact team performance allows basketball coaches to select effective line-ups for specific tactical scenarios. The study aimed to i) assess how different line-ups or player combinations impact a team's game performance; ii) explore the variations in line-up utilization among different national women's basketball teams; and iii) examine how the offensive efficiency of each line-up evolves during the game. Data from 3,387 ball possessions in 23 international women's basketball games were collected across four major competitions over six years. Offensive and defensive ratings, along with other features, were calculated. Then, a Markov chain model distinguished overperforming and underperforming line-ups of Chinese women's basketball team, determining long-term probabilities for each rating level. The results indicated that i) the most dominant offensive line-up of the Chinese women's basketball team, is PG-G-SF-PF-C, while G-G-F-PF-PF had the highest defensive rating; and ii) US and Australian women's basketball teams favour using line-ups with three guards, while the Chinese women's basketball team heavily relies on centre players. These results offer valuable insights for coaches regarding the performance of different line-ups in FIBA Female Basketball Competitions, optimizing line-up performance and aiding talent selection and recruitment at the international level.

Unique Specific Jumping Test for Measuring Explosive Power in Young Basketball Players: Differences by Gender, Age, and Playing Positions.

When playing basketball, players are required to have high explosive power, which requires the ability to move in efficient, specific, and game-specific movement patterns that combine both horizontal and vertical abilities. Differences have been seen between young male and female basketball players in this measure. The aim of this study was to examine differences in players' unique movements by gender, age, and playing positions using a novel test for basketball players. This study included 232 young basketball players, male and female, from a range of Israeli leagues, who were divided into three categories: under-14, under-16, and under-18. Our findings showed that males presented better results than females in all age categories. Moreover, females in the under-18 category presented better results than those in the under-14 category, but not more than those in the under-16 category. Differences in playing positions were only examined between males and females in the under-18 category, where players begin to specialize in playing positions, and here, guards showed better results than forwards and centers. Our conclusions highlight the importance of including unique, sport-specific tests in talent identification and selection processes, as these tests can provide valuable information about a player's skill set and potential for success. The findings are presented in an achievement table of the expected physical fitness results by age and gender for the benefit of basketball coaches and strength and conditioning coaches when assessing their players.

Demandas físicas de jugadores profesionales costarricenses de fútbol: Influencia de la posición de juego y nivel competitivo / Physical Demands of Costa Rican Professional Soccer Players: Influence of the Playing Position and the Competitive Level

Resumen La monitorización de las demandas físicas durante partidos de fútbol con tecnologías GPS proporciona información valiosa que puede ser utilizada para potenciar el rendimiento deportivo. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue conocer las demandas físicas de jugadores profesionales costarricenses de fútbol, así como analizar la influencia de la posición de juego y el nivel competitivo durante partidos. Sesenta futbolistas masculinos, 50 de la primera división del fútbol costarricense y 10 de una selección nacional absoluta de CONCACAF (SAC), fueron monitoreados con un Sistema de Posicionamiento Global (GPS) para cuantificar variables cinemáticas como la distancia recorrida (m), total y a diferentes intensidades (Z 1-5), velocidad máxima (km/h), impactos totales (g), aceleraciones (m/s) y desaceleraciones (m/s). Las posiciones de juego se categorizaron en: defensas (Def), mediocampistas (Med) y delanteros (Del), y el nivel competitivo en: a) SAC, b) Equipos de nivel élite (ENE) y c) Equipos de nivel sub-élite (ENS). Los resultados reflejaron diferencias significativas respecto al nivel competitivo en la distancia recorrida a diferentes intensidades Z1 (SAC >ENS >ENE), Z2 (ENE >SAC >ENS) y Z4 (ENE >SAC >ENS), aceleraciones (SAC >ENE >ENS) y en desaceleraciones (SAC >ENS >ENE). Por posiciones de juego, las diferencias estuvieron en la distancia total (Med >Def >Del), en la distancia recorrida en Z2 (Med >Def >Del) y Z3 (Med >Def >Del), así como en impactos totales (Med >Def >Del). Se concluye que el nivel competitivo influye sobre las demandas físicas. SAC registró más aceleraciones y desaceleraciones y, ENE recorrió mayor distancia a esfuerzos moderados e intensos. Existen diferencias en las posiciones de juego, los mediocampistas recorrieron mayores distancias y registraron más impactos.

Abstract Monitoring physical demands during soccer matches with GPS technologies provides valuable information that can be used to enhance sports performance. Therefore, this study aimed to know Costa Rican professional soccer players' physical demands and analyze the influence of the playing position and the competitive level during matches. Sixty male soccer players, 50 from the first division of Costa Rican soccer and 10 from an absolute national CONCACAF (SAC) team were monitored with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to quantify kinematic variables such as distance traveled (m), total and different intensities (Z 1-5), maximum speed (km/h), total impacts (g), accelerations (m / s) and decelerations (m/s). The game positions were categorized into defenses (Def), midfielders (Mid) and forward (For), and the competitive level in a) SAC, b) Elite level teams (ENE), and c) Sub-elite level teams (ENS). The results reflected significant differences regarding the competitive level in the distance traveled at different intensities Z1 (SAC >ENS >ENE), Z2 (ENE >SAC >ENS) and Z4 (ENE >SAC >ENS), in accelerations (SAC >ENE >ENS), and in decelerations (SAC >ENS >ENE). By game positions, the differences were in the total distance (Mid >Def >For), in the distance traveled in Z2 (Mid >Def >For) and Z3 (Mid >Def >For), as well as in total impacts (Mid >Def >For). It is concluded that the competitive level influences the physical demands. SAC registered more accelerations and decelerations, and ENE traveled a greater distance with moderate and intense efforts. There were differences between playing positions; midfielder traveled longer distances and recorded more impacts.

Resumo O monitoramento das demandas físicas durante partidas de futebol com tecnologias GPS fornece informações valiosas que podem ser usadas para aprimorar o desempenho atlético. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer as demandas físicas dos jogadores de futebol profissional da Costa Rica, bem como analisar a influência da posição de jogo e do nível competitivo durante os jogos. Sessenta jogadores de futebol masculino, 50 da primeira divisão do futebol costarriquenho e 10 da seleção nacional absoluta da CONCACAF (SAC), foram monitorados com um Sistema de Posicionamento Global (GPS) para quantificar variáveis cinemáticas como distância percorrida (m), total já diferentes intensidades (Z 1-5), velocidade máxima (km / h), impactos totais (g), acelerações (m / s) e desacelerações (m / s). As posições de jogo foram categorizadas em: defensores (Def), meio-campistas (Med) e atacantes (Del), e o nível competitivo em: a) SAC, b) Times de elite (ENE) e c) times de nível pré-elite (ENS). Os resultados refletiram diferenças significativas em relação ao nível competitivo na distância percorrida em diferentes intensidades Z1 (SAC> ENS> ENE), Z2 (ENE> SAC> ENS) e Z4 (ENE> SAC> ENS), acelerações (SAC> ENE> ENS) e em desacelerações (SAC> ENS> ENE). Por posições de jogo, as diferenças foram na distância total (Med> Def> Del), na distância percorrida em Z2 (Med> Def> Del) e Z3 (Med> Def> Del), bem como nos impactos totais (Med > Def> Del). Conclui-se que o nível competitivo influencia as demandas físicas. O SAC registrou mais acelerações e desacelerações, e a ENE percorreu uma distância maior com esforços moderados e intensos. Existem diferenças nas posições de jogo, os meio-campistas percorreram distâncias maiores e registraram mais impactos.