The Effects of Morphological Structure and Fatigue on the Passing Skill in Pre-Pubescent Basketball Players

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of morphological structures and fatigue levels of pre-pubescent basketball players on basketball passing skill. Twenty-three male basketball players (age = 10.5 ± 0.71) who train regularly participated in the study voluntarily. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Basketball Pass Test was used to determine participants' passing skills. To determine the fatigue intensity participants were required to perform as many squat thrusts as possible in one minute. The Heath-Carter method was used to determine somatotype characteristics. In the statistical analysis, Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient was used in determining the level of relationship between parameters, while Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to determine the difference between rest passing skill and fatigue passing skill. The endomorphic structure had a negative correlation with rest passing and fatigue passing scores (rho = -0.42, -0.55; p <0.05, p <0.01, respectively). The mesomorphic structure had a negative correlation with fatigue passing score (rho = -0.45; p <0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found with the fatigue passing score of the ectomorpic structure (rho = 0.58, p <0.01). Significant differences were found between the passing scores of basketball players' rest and fatigue (p<0.01). As a result, it was determined that both rest and fatigue passing scores decreased with the increased of the endomorphic structure representing the fatness feature and also fatigue passing scores decreased with the increased of the mesomorphic structure. But, fatigue passing score increased with the increased of the ectomorphic structures of basketball players. In addition, the results of the study showed that as the fatigue levels of pre-pubescent basketball players increased, the passing skill levels decreased.