Comparación del perfil antropométrico y la aptitud física de los atletas de baloncesto de diferentes posiciones

Abstract

Introduction: The different positions of basketball require the athlete to have different physical abilities and characteristics to perform their functions on the court. Objective: To compare anthropometric profile and physical fitness of federated basketball athletes in the under-17 category in different positions. Methods: The sample was composed of 16 male athletes (16.67 ± 0.48 years old), including point guards, small forwards, and centers. For analysis of the anthropometric profile, we measured body mass, height and body mass index of the athletes. Four tests were applied to analyze physical fitness: the abdominal endurance test, upper limb strength test, Sargent jump test, and agility test. Results: The results of the present study showed significant differences in height values between point guards and centers, with the largest differences for centers (p = 0.01). The abdominal endurance test showed higher performance in small forwards when compared with centers (p = 0.048). No significant differences were found between the groups in the tests of agility, upper limb Strength or Sargent jump test. Conclusion: The current study showed that the anthropometric profile and physical fitness of basketball athletes in the under-17 category differ among player position. Specifically, the centers had higher height, whereas the small forwards were characterized by greater abdominal strength when compared to the other two positions.