Is training carried out the same as competition? analysis of load in women’s basketball

Abstract

It is necessary to analyze the impact that the competition have on athletes, in an objective and scientific way. The knowledge of the physiological and kinematic demands in sports competition is one of the factor that will establish optimal training processes. Therefore, the main objectives of this research were to characterize and analyze the differences between training and real competition in a women's senior basketball team during 2015/16 season. The design of this research is empirical with quantitative methodology, which focuses on analyzing the relationships and differences between variables. The independent variable was the Game Situation, categorized in Small Sided Games, Full Game and Competition. Five dependent variables were recorded: Impacts, Steps and Jumps per minute (kinematic variables); and Average and Maximum Heart Rate (internal load). A descriptive analysis was performed and the univariate general linear model was used to differentiate between categories of the variable Game Situation. Finally, Bonferroni Post Hoc test was used to identify differences between groups. The results showed that higher values of Average and Maximum Heart Rate and Steps per minute were found in competition. Coaches should consider these results to adapt the training to the requirements of the
competition.