RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS IN U12 BASKETBALL PLAYERS
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS IN U12 BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: This study sought to examine the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and physical performance components—agility, flexibility, and lower-body explosive power—in children under 12 years of age (U12) engaged in a basketball training program. Methods: A total of 94 children (under 12) from Tirana, Albania, participated in basketball training three times weekly and were evaluated. The 20-meter shuttle run test was assessed to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness (total laps). Agility was assessed through the 10x5 meter shuttle run and the agility T-Test. Flexibility was measured with the Sit & Reach test, while explosive power was examined using the standing long jump test. Pearson correlation coefficients were employed to examine the relationships between shuttle run performance and various physical performance components. Results: A significative negative correlation was identified between shuttle run performance and the 10x5 meter agility test (r = -0.240, p = 0.020), although no significant association was detected with the Agility T-Test (r = -0.143, p = 0.179). The shuttle run performance shown no significant link with flexibility (r = 0.037, p = 0.724), but demonstrated a significate positive correlation with lower-body explosive power (r = 0.316, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Cardiorespiratory fitness in young basketball players is markedly correlated with agility and lower-body power, however not with flexibility. These findings highlight the significance of aerobic conditioning in enhancing multifaceted physical performance in child sports environments.

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