Chapter I
INTRODUCTION Sports science emphasises on developing new techniques and training methods to train athletes or teams for enhancing performance at high level. India needs to reinforce this trend in all fields of sports and this can only be possible through scientific, systematic and planned sports training programme. Basketball is one of the fastest games in which high level of conditioning and coordinative abilities with technical and tactical potentials are essential to perform every skill at desired or required level. It is a game of quickness of (hand and foot) and speed (overall body motion) that are used at the proper time. Coaching should continually emphasize the principle of doing things right then quickly making the right move at the right time while developing and maintaining individual physical, emotional and team balance and correct offensive and defensive positions (Krause J.V. et al 2008). Offensive fundamentals embrace the skills necessary to advance the ball into opponent s territory and score. Champion teams have been and always be teams that have mastered the fundamentals of basketball and enjoy the game (Lindeburg F. A., 1967). Speed- Agility-Quickness (SAQ) training is a different kind of training method, which aims to maximise each individual potential in his/her genetically inherited abilities. Speed, agility and quickness are undoubtedly highly desirable in both team and individual sports specifically in intermittent games like
Basketball which is about 20% aerobic and 80% anaerobic in nature (Brittenham G, 1996). Though the most of the movements in basketball are anaerobic in nature but aerobic system may play a major role as the duration of the game is forty minutes (ten minutes each period of four periods). Aerobic system played a significant role in the maintenance of intensity level during a soccer game, which was characterized by short bursts of activities (Meckel et al 2009). Speed, agility, and quickness are some of the most significant, and observable components of athletic success. An improvement in the ability to react quickly, apply significant force rapidly in the appropriate direction, and to redirect that force if needed is the ultimate goal of a programme to improve speed, agility, and quickness. A carefully designed programme that addresses these factors of athleticism significantly improves overall performance and reduces the risk of injury. Speed, agility, and quickness all involve learned motor skills. Although the magnitude of proficiency will vary with each individual learning the efficient and effective execution of these skills can improve overall athletic ability. While improving and refining a player s basketball skills crucial for enhancing the quality of play, it is the improvement of the player s athletic skills that allows him to elevate his play to a higher level. Athletic skills include variables such as speed, power, endurance, agility, coordination, balance and reaction time. Improving these athletic skills is critical to the total development of 2
the athlete. The level at which basketball skills are performed is directly related to the level of the athlete s total conditioning (Brittenham G., 1996). Dr James Naismith, the inventor of the game of Basketball stated (1914) that the first principle on which the game was based was that it should demand of, and develop in, the player the highest type of physical and athletic development (Brzycki M. and Brown S., 1993). In basketball, successful performance is dependent upon several fitness components that are anaerobic in nature. These components i.e., speed, agility, and vertical jump height must be performed repeatedly, with minimal reductions in performance for the duration of the contest (Hoffman J.R. et al, 2000). Movement learning experts have found that basketball skills are learned in three stages- the Cognitive, Practice and Automatic stages. The player forms a mental picture of the skill, usually by using a demonstration or explanation from the teacher or coach in the cognitive stage. In practice stage, the player imitates the demonstration, the imitation are corrected and reinforced, and the skills are repeated. Finally in the automatic stage, players can perform skills without thinking. The movements become habits and can be performed as game moves at game speed (Krause J.V. et al 2008). Therefore the conditioning drills which are highly related to basketball game should be practiced at game speed for automatisation. Basketball is one of the sports characterized by many of basics and variables skills. The basketball player perfection to do such skills, defensive or offensive, needs development in the physical qualities in the basketball player, 3
which enables him to do the required duties throughout the match. Special physical preparation in basketball is the main pillar for the players to carry out the special requirements (physical, skillful and tactical). Without these requirements, the player cannot achieve the objectives set up for the training or competition. Physical adaptation of the player to perform the sports activities is one of the practical functions of the training which improve the training of the player to reach to higher levels in the sports activities. The skillful performance is relevantly associated with the special physical motor abilities as the perfection of the skillful performance depends on the range of the development of the special physical abilities to perform such requirements, such as muscular power, endurance, agility and others. The skillful performance is often measured by the level of the player to acquire physical abilities (Shallaby H.K., 2010). All movement in sports can be broken down into three plains of motion or directions forwards and backwards (the Sagital Plane), side to side (the Frontal Plane), and rotational movement (the Transverse Plane) and three muscle actions - acceleration (concentric), stabilization (isometric), and deceleration (eccentric). Most sports require the ability to explosively move in all three directions and to explosively accelerate, decelerate, functionally stabilize, and explosively accelerate again. Yet, older ineffective forms of training traditionally have emphasized just one plain of motion (which is the sagital plain - for example: sprints, squats, lunges, leg presses, and leg curls) and one muscle action - primarily acceleration. But functional movement and competitive sports is just not like this, and this is why close to 80% of all sports injuries occur without 4
any contact with opponents and usually when an athlete decelerates and rotates (such as during a change in direction). Athletes must train in all three plains of motion and with all muscle actions (acceleration, deceleration, stabilization), to create a much safer and much more effective program. In addition, workouts should be both age specific and sport specific. This is very important. A nineyear-old football player should not be using the same program as a fourteenyear-old basketball player or a nineteen-year-old hockey player. Construct a needs analysis of the sport. What are the dominant planes of motion and muscle actions used by the sport and position of the athlete? What are the energy/endurance demands? What are the rest ratios? What level of intensity is demanded in each phase of the game and for each position? A programme should be built around these components. Finally, the use of effective goal setting, training logs and charts to measure and monitor progress and improvements is an additional, often ignored, component that is very important to overall motivation levels and thus also important to the overall success of any explosive speed, agility and quickness program (http://www.iceboxathlete.com). Speed-agility- quickness (SAQ) training includes the body movements like sprinting, shuffling, jumping, change of direction etc. As the jumping is one part of speed, agility and quickness training therefore plyometric training is one part of speed, agility and quickness training. Plyometric training significantly improved an individual s agility through a six-week intervention. (Miller et al 2006) 5
Speed, agility, and quickness training has become a popular way to train athletes. Whether they are school children on a soccer field or professional in a training camp, they can all benefit from speed, agility, and quickness training. This method has been around for several years, but it is not used by all athletes primarily due to a lack of education regarding the drills. Speed, agility, and quickness training may be used to increase speed or strength, or the ability to exert maximal force during high-speed movements. Some benefits of speed, agility, and quickness training include increases in muscular power in all multiplanar movements; brain signal efficiency; kinaesthetic or body spatial awareness; motor skills; and reaction time (Brown L.E. et al 2000) Speed, agility, and quickness training can cover the complete spectrum of training intensity, from low to high intensity. Every individual will come into a training programme at a different level; thus training intensity must coincide with the individual s abilities. Low intensity speed, agility, and quickness drills can be used by everyone for different applications. SAQ drills can also be used to teach movement, warm-up, or to condition an athlete. No significant preparation is needed to participate at this level of speed, agility, and quickness training. Higher intensity drills require a significant level of preparation. A simple approach to safe participation and increased effectiveness is to start a concurrent strength-training program when starting speed, agility, and quickness training (Brown L.E et al, 2000). Most sport skills involve rapid force generation. As a case in point, force is applied for one to two seconds during many athletic tasks, whereas absolute 6
maximum force production requires up to six to eight seconds. Even in nonballistic movements, performance is usually determined by the ability to develop force quickly and achieve a critical power out-put (velocity with given resistance). Many movements have a reactive or ballistic nature regardless of whether they are initiated from a dynamic or static position. This phenomenon referred to as the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) and is especially prevalent in athletics. SSC actions exploit the myotatic reflex as well as the elastic qualities of tendons and muscle, and the resulting performance is independent of maximum strength in elite athletes. In contrast, the role of strength in determining movement speed increase with resistance. The implications of this are obvious when considering that the mass of the athlete s body, equipment, or opponent must be overcome explosively-by a single support leg-during speed, agility, and quickness manoeuvres. These facts collectively illustrate that the evaluation of explosive strength is the starting point for determining the role of speed, agility, and quickness training in an athlete s preparation (Brown L.E. et al 2000). Basketball has had its share of great players: Jabber (USA) with his sky hook, Dr. J (USA) with his acrobatic slam dunk, Larry Bird (USA) with his incredible court sense, and shooting ability, Magic (USA) with his extra ordinary passes all of them able to dominate the action, draw the action of every fan, and set a new standard of excellence because of a rare combination of physical talent and well-honed basketball skills. 7
One player in the entire history of the sport, however, stands apart because of his superior total package. Gliding from one end of the court to the other, dunking from the free throw line, swiping away an opponent s shot, or rising effortlessly above a defender to release a spectacular jumper, Michael Jordon (U.S.A.) has allowed us to see what s possible when incomparable physical ability is combined with basketball skills. He has demonstrated the total package (Brittenham G., 1996) in playing basketball. The importance of strength, power, speed, conditioning, flexibility, agility and coordination is quite evident in the sport of basketball. Preparation for competition therefore should include strength training exercises, conditioning activities, stretching movements and the practicing of proper basketball technique for thousands and thousands of task specific repetition (Brzycki M. and Brown S., 1993). Basketball is one of the most popular team sport extensively played and viewed all over the world. Through time, basketball has developed to involve common techniques of shooting, passing, dribbling, including player s positioning as well as offensive and defensive structures. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have developed for casual play. What does a basketball player needs? Apparently, it is the ability to rapidly switch between forward, backward, lateral and vertical movements. Now, the question arises to our minds how we can enhance above movements? Possibly through basic training or some enhanced training programs. It is understood that the key to success for any game is to become proficient with the more basic 8
training versions and then advance to more difficult ones, In view of the above, we can say a basketball player needs good fitness, flexibility, power, strength, agility, endurance and vertical jumping ability to achieve sporting targets (Shaji J. and Isha S., 2009). Blending top speed, rapid change of direction, explosive lateral movement and lighting fast response are the qualities that the top basketball players need to be the champion. Therefore, it was deemed reasonable to investigate the effects of speed, agility and quickness training programme on basketball performance. Through continuous but precise repetition of the SAQ training, the neuromuscular link between intention and action is expected to be improved and imprinted to produce an efficient player who would be able to react quickly, explosively and effectively irrespective of his/her playing position. Statement of the Problem The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of speed-agility- quickness training programme on basketball performance of male basketball players with advanced participation level. Speed-agility-quickness training dealt with overall body motion, power, coordinative abilities and quickness of hands and feet of basketball players. 9
Objectives of the Study Objectives of the study were to 1. investigate the effects of speed-agility-quickness training on basketball performance. 2. find out the contribution of selected motor fitness components, namely power, agility, speed, cardio-respiratory endurance to basketball performance. 3. explore about the role of specialized SAQ equipment for observing the significant improvement in basketball performance. 4. investigate about the effects of SAQ training on basketball performance without any specific equipment. Delimitations The study was delimited to the following areas: 1. The study was confined to 60 male basketball players. 2. The age of the subjects ranged between 18 to 23 years. 3. The level of participation of the subjects was National/Inter-University/ State in Basketball. 10
4. The study was confined to a treatment period of three days of a week during 8 weeks. 5. The study was further delimited to the following variables and tests: Variables Tests Dependent: (i) Basketball Performance Subjective Rating Test Independent: (ii) Power (iii) Agility (iv) Speed (v)cardio-respiratory Endurance Vertical Jump Test Illinois Agility Test 20mts Dash Test 20 meter Multistage Shuttle Run Test Limitations 1. The socio-economic status of the subjects selected for the study was considered as a limitation of the study. 2. Non availability of sophisticated instruments was also treated as a limitation of the study. 11
3. The meteorological variations such as air, temperature, and atmospheric pressure, relative humidity etc. during administration of tests and measurements could not be controlled and their possible influence on the study was also recognized as limitations. 4. The emotional stages of the subject and motivational factors would influence the result of study that was also accepted as a limitation. Hypotheses On the basis of the literature reviewed, an available research finding, expert s opinion and scholar s own understanding of the problem the following hypotheses were made: H 1 : There would be significant improvement in basketball performance of Speed-agility-quickness (SAQ) Training groups in comparison to the Active Control group. H 2 : There would be significant improvement in all selected motor fitness components of the two Experimental groups in comparison to the Active Control group. H 0 : There would be no significant improvement in basketball performance and selected motor abilities of speed agility quickness training group with equipment (SAQE) while compared with the non-equipment group (SAQNE). 12
Definitions and Explanations of Terms Speed Speed is the ability to perform a movement in a short period of time (Matte M., 2011). It is the rate at which a person can propel his body or part of his body through space ( Johnson and Nelson, 1982 ). It is easily defined as the rate of motion or the velocity of the body, or any one of its parts (Jack H. Wilmore, 1977). Agility Agility, as defined by the President's Council, refers to the ability to change your entire body position in space rapidly with accuracy and speed (Matte M., 2011). It is the ability to decelerate, accelerate, and change direction quickly while maintaining good body control without decreasing speed. (Lee, Vance, and Juan, 2000). It is the physical ability which enables an individual to rapidly change body position and direction in precise manner (Johnson & Nelson, 1982). 13
Quickness It is an ability of an individual to react to stimuli with speed. Quickness is also defined as moving swiftly, occurring in a short time, responding to or understanding something rapidly (Lee, Vance, and Juan, 2000). Speed Agility Quickness Training Quickness refers to explosive acceleration from a stationary position. Speed is the ability to reach a high velocity of movement in whatever mode of locomotion. Agility is the ability to quickly change directions. Speed- Agility- Quickness training improve an athlete s ability to perform sports-specific skills. (Brown k, 2009) Speed-agility-quickness training is a system of progressive exercise and instructions aimed at developing fundamental motor abilities to enhance the capability of players and athletes to be more skillful at faster speeds and with greater precision. (Gregory J., 2004) SAQ training in Basketball essentially includes conditioning and at the same time unique drills to develop technical areas. SAQ Equipment Group (SAQE) The group of subjects that had undergone experimental treatment of speed-agility-quickness training with the help of SAQ equipments like ladder, mini hurdles, cones, basketballs etc. 14
SAQ Non-Equipment Group (SAQNE) The group of players that took part in speed-agility-quickness training without any specialized SAQ equipments. Active Control Group (AC) The group of subjects that did not take part in the SAQ training programmes but continued their regular game practice in traditional way during the study. Power A combination of strength and speed, power is the ability to exert maximum force in a quick, explosive burst (Matte M., 2011). Cardio-Respiratory Endurance Cardio respiratory system refers to the combined actions of cardiovascular system which supplies blood to the body respiratory system, which pulls in oxygen from environment. The term "cardio respiratory endurance" refers to the relative ability of these two systems to provide with sufficient energy for sustained physical effort (Hoyle M.G., 2011) The ability of the lungs and the heart to take in and transport adequate amounts of oxygen to the working muscles, allowing activities that involve large 15
muscle masses to be performed over long periods of time, is termed as Cardio- Respiratory Endurance (Fox E.L. and Mathews D.K., 1981). Significance of the Study 1. The study would add contemporary knowledge in sports training and technical know-how related to the development of Basketball. 2. The study would have enormous contribution to the profession of coaching and physical education teaching as the experimental study on SAQ training in Basketball game is not available. 3. The findings of the study would be helpful in nurturing the talents and their subsequent selection for more advanced training in Basketball. 4. The study would enable to select the effective programme of SAQ training i.e. with or without equipment in relation to basketball performance. 5. The study would give an opportunity and encouragement to the interested coaches and sports scientists to conduct further studies on different age, sex and level of basketball players applying SAQ training. 16