College
College of Education
Department
Kinesiology
Abstract
Wheelchair basketball is an adapted sport in which individuals of all ages participate. Sport specific measures are important for training and to compare sport performances between players of various levels. Baseline values have been established for elite players, but they have not been established for amateur athletes. PURPOSE: To determine baseline measures in sport performance for youth wheelchair basketball athletes. METHODS: Four males and one female (age = 15 ± 1 year) were recruited from a local high school wheelchair basketball team. Body composition (3-site skinfold) and anthropometric measures (body mass, wingspan, and shoulder width) were evaluated, along with performance testing measures (pick-up test, max pass,10m sprint with and without basketball, spot shot test, and t-test). RESULTS: Athletes all had spina bifida, and either Junior 1 or Junior 2 classification per the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Mean scores were reported for each measure taken: body mass (73.6 ± 44.94 kg), body composition (31.6 ± 22.28 percent body fat), wingspan (168 ± 16.88 cm), shoulder width (34.4 ± 3.78 cm), pick-up test (20.32 ± 2.80 cm), max pass (2.86 m ± 1.18 m), sprint with ball (4.09 sec. ± 0.45 sec), sprint without ball (3.40 ± 0.40 sec), spot shot (29.6 ± 11.10 points), and t-test (20.48 ± 3.05 sec). CONCLUSIONS: These scores provide feedback to players on their level of wheelchair basketball performance compared to other players on the same, or various, levels along with showing areas that need to be focused for improvement during practice.
Recommended Citation
Bosheers, Ally and Light, Jessica
(2019)
"Sport Performance Measures in Youth Wheelchair Basketball Athletes,"
Perpetua: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at UAH: Vol. 4:
Iss.
1, Article 1.
Available at:
https://louis.uah.edu/perpetua/vol4/iss1/1