Relationships between defensive movement and results of some tests of strength, agility and acceleration in basketball players aged 13 and 14

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the results of some strength, agility and acceleration tests and defensive movement. The sample of respondents was 82 elite basketball players aged 13 and 14 (average age of 13,34 years). Independent variables (power abilities) were measured using five tests: standing long jump, standing triple jump, sertical jump with reach (sertical jump), 20 meter running test (run 20m) and agility T Test. The dependent variable was measured using the defensive movement test. The data were processed with descriptive statistics; correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between the variables and regression analysis, the Stepwise method, was used to determine the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable. Expectedly high correlations were obtained between the results in the jumps, jumps and 20m running tests, as well as between the jumps and agility tests. Correlations between the defensive movement test and the other variables are moderate, except for a slightly stronger correlation with the agility T test (r=0,663; p=0,01). In the first step of Stepwise regression analysis, the variable agility T test was calculated (t=9,667 p=0,001), and in the second step the variable vertical jump (t=12,068; p=0,041).