Effect of two different forms of three-point line on game actions in girls' mini-basketball

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare two different designs of the three-point line to analyze which one allows for a higher frequency of motor actions that, according to the literature, should be strengthened when including a three-point line in youth basketball. In the first of two championships, female mini-basketball players (N=67) played with a three-point line delimited by the free throw lane, while during the second one, they played with a rectangular three-point line. Four observers were trained. The reliability reached values between .90 and .98. The Mann-Whitney U Test was used to determine if there were significant differences among the averages of the compared variable. When participants used the three-point line delimited by the free throw lane, there were increases in the percentage of ball possessions that ended in a shot (U=1280785, Z=-3.827, p=.000), that ended in shots from zones A (U=1286321, Z=-3.531, p=.000) and C (U=1356614, Z=-2.182, p=.029), in standard shots (U=1294771, Z=-3.269, p=.001), in hook shots (U=1358526, Z=-3.176, p=.001), in three-point shot attempts (U=1314902, Z=-6.600, p=.000) and in successful three-point shots (U=1355201, Z=-3.888, p=.000). This study confirms the necessity of consulting with analysts before introducing and modifying a rule in sport.