Comparative study of the tactical indicators that characterize the fast break in male and female under-16 Basketball teams

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare, in youth Basketball, the offensive technical and tactical indicators which contribute to the development of fast break situations. The sample consisted of 12 games, regarding female and male Under-16 during the 2009/2010 season. The variables studied were: a) fast break development form, b) recovery of ball possession (form and zone), c) distance of the outlet pass, d) fast break situations, e) fast break finalization (form and zone) and f) fast break finalization. For the overall results of this study, we used descriptive statistics procedures for presentation of frequencies and percentages of variables. For comparison of the results between male and female teams we used the Chi-Square Test (χ²), with a significance level of p ≤ .05. The results showed that for female teams the fast breaks were mostly initiated by defensive rebounds in areas near the basket as for the male teams it was through interceptions. For both groups fast breaks were mostly developed by pass and the outlet pass most often delivered to the offensive midfield. Also, for female and male teams the most common fast break situation was the 1x1 followed by the 1x0 and the lay-up was the most frequent form of finalizing ball possessions, mostly, in areas near the basket. Finally, male teams have completed a larger number of fast break and more efficiently, compared with the female teams. These results confirm that fast break is an indicator of the game with great importance and provide relevant information that can help planning and organizing the training of fast break at youth level guards; these differences were are not observed in the playoffs.