The influence of fatigue on internal and external load using game-based drills in junior and adult male basketball players

Abstract

Background: Fatigue demonstrated by decreasing performance seems to occur towards the ends of periods of matches and can lead to a win or loss of the match. Objective: This study aimed to assess the influence of fatigue on internal and external load using game-based drills in junior and adult male basketball players. Methods: A total of 50 elite basketball players participated in this study. Every participant was monitored by the Team Pro Polar system to find out heart rate and activity demands during a game-based drill. Mixed analysis of variance 2 × 4 was used. Results: Significant interactions between age category and playing quarter were found for 2 distance covered (p =.001, ηp =.25). Significant interactions between age category and playing quarter were found for relative time 2 2 in zone 3 (running, p =.013, ηp =.25) and zone 4 (high-intensity running, p =.004, ηp =.34). When comparing the last three minutes of quarters, a significant main effect was found for playing quarter, when the distance covered (p =.001, ηp 2 =.47) significantly 2 decreased. A significant main effect was found for playing quarter, whereby relative time spent in zone 3 (p =.012, ηp =.09; quarter 2 1 vs. 4: p =.044) significantly increased, and in zone 4 decreased (p =.001, ηp =.29, moderate effect; quarter 1 vs. 4: p =.010). When comparing heart rate and activity demands during the last three minutes of playing quarters, the significant main effect for 2 the age category was found in distance covered (p =.004, ηp =.27). It was greater in adult male players compared to junior players. Conclusions: The fatigue affects the distance covered, and intensity of activity demands during the last three minutes of quarters, but not the heart rate response of players.