A Needs Analysis and Field-Based Testing Battery for Basketball

Abstract

Basketball is a high-intensity sport requiring a range of athletic abilities: explosive strength and rate of force development, agility, coordination, speed, anaerobic lactate, and alactic capacities. Within elite basketball strength and conditioning programs, distinct variation in the assessment of such qualities is evident, highlighting the need for evidence-based practice to determine acceptable validity and reliability of the measures used. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to determine the physiological requirements of the sport, so that suitable testing approaches can be identified from which coaches can optimally assess the physical capabilities of their athletes.