Aerobic Training does Not Improve Competitive Performance in Young Elite Basketball Players

Abstract

Research background and hypothesis. While for some authors team sport players should have a high VO 2 max,
we hypothesize that there exist a non-linear relationship between VO 2 max and basketball performance.
Research aims. Research aims were to study the correlation between basketball performance and VO 2 max
in young elite basketball players and the effects of VO 2 max training on performance.
Research methods. In the fi rst study, 67 high-level young basketball players performed a shuttle-run test
(SRT) to measure their VO 2 max. Competition performance assessed through statistics ratings of 5 matches was
determined for all players. The correlation between VO 2 max and performance was calculated. In the second study,
the VO 2 max and the competition performance of 34 high-level young male players was assessed as in the fi rst
study. The sample was divided into control and experimental groups, which trained their VO 2 max. At the end
of the training period all participants repeated the SRT. The results of 4 games played before the fi rst test and 4
games played after the second test (against the same opponents) were compared in both groups.
Research results. In the fi rst study we found a correlation of VO 2 max with steals in both groups. In the
second study, the experimental group increased their VO 2 max and steals per game, but they decreased free throw
per game and free throw percentage.
Discussion and conclusions. No correlation was found between VO 2 max and competitive performance in
this study, and increased VO 2 max had no effect on most of the studied variables. The data therefore suggest a
non-linear relationship between VO 2 max and basketball performance.

Keywords: aerobic capacity, basketball performance, non-linear relationship.