Physiological responses to ball-drills in regional level male basketball players

The main aim of this study was to assess the physiological responses of male basketball players during usual basketball balldrills. Fourteen male basketball players (age 18.9+ 2.3 years) performed the following full-court (28 615 m) basketball ball-drills (36 4-min with 3-min passive rest): five-a-side (5v5), three-a-side (3v3) and two-a-side (2v2). A main effect (P5 0.0001) for ball-drills modes was evident for all variables (5v5 53v3 5 2v2). Mean^V_ O₂ during the 5v5, 3v3 and 2v2 were 39.0+ 7.2, 42.0 +7.5 and 45.0 +6.5 ml kg⁷¹ min⁷¹ (69+ 11, 74 + 12 and 79 + 11% of^V_ O_2peak) respectively (5v5 1/43v3 52v2, P 50.001). Mean blood-lactate concentrations for 5v5, 3v3 and 2v2 were 4.2 +1.8, 6.2 +2.3 and 7.8+ 1.2 mmol (l⁷¹ respectively (5v5 53v3 52v2, P 50.01). During the 5v5, 3v3 and 2v2 mean heart-rate (HR) was 84.0+9.2, 88.0+ 8.4 and 92.0 +5.6% of the individual peak respectively (5v5 5 3v35 2v2; P 50.001). No significant differences were found between the regression-line slope (P 1/40.86) and intercept (P 1/40.45) of the HR-^V_ O₂ relationships of the multistage maximal fitness test (r² from 0.80 to 0.96, P5 0.001) and ball-drills (r² from 0.70 to 0.95, P 50.001) conditions. Reducing the number of players over the same playing court resulted in increments in physiological demands. The 2v2 condition provided responses in the range of those reported to improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness. The aerobic demands of ball-drills can be accurately assessed using heart-rate monitoring in basketball.