Anthropometric and fitness profiles of young basketball players according to their playing position and time

Abstract

Basketball is considered a physical contact game that demands high rates of anthropometric and fitness characteristics for all the players. However, it has been found that players differ significantly from each other concerning their characteristics. Basketball parameters such as the playing position and the playing time associated to players’ characteristics. Besides that, one factor that has not been examined before is the relationship between balance and anthropometric-fitness characteristics. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine the anthropometric and fitness differences of young basketball players according to their playing position and playing time, as well as to examine differences of players’ balance. The results revealed differences among players of different playing position and time concerning their height, weight, BMI, balance, lower limb endurance and vertical jump. Finally, the correlations between balance and anthropometric-fitness characteristics indicated that balance is highly related to all these characteristics.