Seasonal Variations in Game Activity Profiles and Players' Neuromuscular Performance in Collegiate Division I Basketball: Non-conference vs. Conference Tournament

• Published in: Frontiers in sports and active living 2020-10, Vol.2, p.592705-592705
• Main Authors: Petway, Adam J, Freitas, Tomás T, Calleja-González, Julio, Torres-Ronda, Lorena, Alcaraz, Pedro E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: fatigue; game demands; neuromuscular outputs; RSI; Sports and Active Living; vertical jump
• ISSN: 2624-9367; 2624-9367
• DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2020.592705

Basketball has a high demand on a player's neuromuscular system due to a high volume of explosive high-intensity actions. This study aimed to examine the seasonal variations on game demands and players' neuromuscular performance during the Non-Conference (NON-CONF) and Conference (CONF) seasons in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball. Seven NCAA Division I Basketball players' (20 ± 1.2 years, 1.95 ± 0.1 m, and 94 ± 15 kg) match activity profiles were tracked in 17 home games (7 NON-CONF; 10 CONF); furthermore, players performed a repeat hop test on a force platform the day before competition to assess neuromuscular performance. A -test for paired samples was used to analyze the differences between NON-CONF and CONF. Results indicated no significant differences in Total Distance, Peak Speed, Acceleration, and Deceleration loads when comparing NON-CONF and CONF match-play. Regarding neuromuscular performance, Jump Height ( = 0.03; ES = 0.43) was negatively affected during CONF. Moreover, a trend toward a decline in Peak Force ( = 0.06; ES = 0.38) was found in CONF. Conversely, no differences were obtained regarding Reactive Strength Index and Contact Time. In conclusion, match-play demands remained constant across the season whilst neuromuscular outputs were inhibited during the CONF season.