Age-related differences in angle-specific change-of-direction performance in basketball: a network analysis

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to analyze the associations between change of direction (COD), high-intensity intermittent capacity, vertical jump, and linear sprint performance in basketball athletes and to explore differences in network analysis between the U‑17 and U‑23 age groups. Methods In total, 54 basketball players (U-17 = 38, U‑23 = 16) participated in the study. The modified 505 (180°) and V-cut (45°) tests were used to assess COD performance. Linear sprint performance (5 m, 10 m, and 25 m), lower-limb power (countermovement jump and squat jump), and high-intensity intermittent capacity (30-15 IFT) were also measured. Correlations and network analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships among the variables. Results The U‑17 group exhibited moderate-to-large correlations between COD performance and all physical tests ( r = −0.22 to −0.78). By contrast, the U‑23 group showed correlations primarily between the modified 505 COD and linear sprint performance ( r = −0.45 to −0.64). Network analysis revealed that the physical determinants become more densely interconnected in older athletes (U-23 sparsity: 0.278; U‑17 sparsity: 0.472), suggesting that performance characteristics become more interdependent. In addition, while linear sprint performance showed the highest closeness (1.218) and strength (1.283) values in the U‑17 group, indicating its major influence in the network analysis, COD performance had the greatest impact on the network structure in U‑23 players with higher closeness (1.304) and strength (1.314). Conclusion Younger athletes benefit from general physical development, with improvements in one physical capacity transferring to others. By contrast, U‑23 athletes appear to have more specific needs related to COD performance.