Is there any difference in fitness profiles among the Croatian basketball players? Position specific analysis

摘要

The aim of the study was to establish possible differences in both aerobic and anaerobic fitness parametersamong different positions (point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers) inbasketball. Based on previous research on certain differences among play positions in basketball, aerobicand anaerobic fitness capacity values of basketballers in different positions were analyzed. Seventy adultbasketball players (age 24.37±4.05 years) from the Croatian Division 1 league were classified as point guards(n=20), shooting guards and small forwards (n=26), and power forwards and centers (n=24). Six variablesof cardiopulmonary function were obtained using spirometry and spiroergometry test. Regarding aerobicabilities, a significant difference among the three positions was found only in the VO 2max parameters (p=.00)in favor of power forwards and centers (5.55± 0.6 l/min) when compared to point guards (4.7± 0.6 L/min) andshooting guards and small forwards (5.01±0.6 l/min). No significant difference was found in the Croatianbasketballers’ anaerobic capacity parameters among the three different play positions.