Some anthropometric measurements and functional indicators and their relationship to the effectiveness of skill performance among basketball players

Abstract

The modern era is characterized by scientific progress and an increasing interest in studying motor performance to identify the importance of factors affecting technical, physiological, psychological, and other aspects, in order to clarify the interconnected relationship of all these factors and the extent of their connection to the goal of rationalizing the training process in order to develop performance and raise the level of athletic achievements. Since high results and athletic achievements can only be achieved by distinguished individuals in all aspects who have the factors of superiority that serve as special characteristics for athletes, the inevitable need to research these aspects has emerged. Since each type of sport has what distinguishes it from others in terms of the availability of these qualities and abilities, those interested in this field have turned to identifying these specifications and abilities specific to each athletic activity separately. It has become important to know the physical and anthropometric specifications as the basis of the basic support that must be provided to bring the athlete to the highest possible level. On the other hand, the skeletal structure of the body plays a large and fundamental role in athletic performance. The importance of anthropometric measurements is evident in the fact that they are often used as a basis for success or failure in a particular activity. This is what was confirmed by the studies of Kohler et al. (1997), Bouchard et al. (1993), and Nikituk (1989), where their length and shortness affect the mechanical specifications of skill performance. This means that the difference in bone lengths will affect the skill performance of individuals, either positively or negatively. Despite this, they can improve their performance when practicing different sports activities when the principle of individual differences is taken into account in the educational or training process alike. These individual differences, in particular, can be identified through anthropometric measurements. Bouchard et al. (1993) indicate that anthropometric measurements are of particular importance, as their availability provides a greater opportunity to understand the correct motor performance of skills. Therefore, anthropometric measurements have occupied an important place in various sports. Nikituk (1989) highlights the importance of knowing and studying physical and anthropometric measurements in athletes, as each sport has its own specific physical requirements that distinguish it from other activities. These requirements are reflected in the attributes that must be present in those who practice that sport. Basketball is one of the games that relies primarily on mastering individual skills based on a good grasp of the game's fundamentals, as well as mastering teamwork, which consists of implementing the established plans, whether defensive or offensive. These plans cannot be implemented effectively without certain physical, physiological, and functional attributes, which are often decisive factors in games. Theorists and coaches agree that reaching the highest levels requires comprehensive preparation in all physical, technical, and tactical aspects. Functional variables play a key role, which has led many basketball-advanced nations to focus heavily on developing the physiological fitness of their players. This is because it is a fundamental requirement for modern basketball, characterized by fast-paced play, which demands a high level of stamina to maintain effective performance throughout the game. The technical level of the game is directly linked to the players' physical fitness. Developed basketball nations invest significant effort in player preparation by identifying players' physical capabilities and the necessary physiological attributes for player selection. This approach aims to save time, accelerate development, and enhance performance. A basketball team cannot effectively implement its offensive and defensive strategies without possessing the appropriate physical and physiological attributes, as well as the necessary physical conditioning to execute those strategies. It is worth mentioning that basketball is a sport that requires physical specifications that are appropriate to the various movements and direct physical contact that take place in it between competitors. It is taken into account that the basketball player should be distinguished by his height, hand length, and finger phalanx length. Regular practice of any type of sport for long periods, such as basketball, gives its practitioners some body measurements specific to that activity, and the change in these measurements is due to the nature of the muscle groups most used in that activity, as the muscle fibers begin to enlarge and grow according to the size, intensity, and density of the load, which affects the symptoms and circumferences of the body.