Enhancing Coordination Skills and Upper-Limb Symmetry Through a Mobile-Application-Based Training Program in 12–14-Year-Old Basketball Players

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Authors: Steff Norbert, Ioan Sabin Sopa, Dionisie Vladimir Turcu, Iulian Stoian, Ioan Teodor Hășmășan, Hășmășan Denisa Elena, Sonia Gabriela Neagu, Radu Antonia
Cited by: 1
References: 40

Abstract

Background: Smartphones are an integral part of young people’s everyday lives and offer an interactive digital environment that can be incorporated into sport training to support engagement and skill development. Methods: A total of 40 male basketball players aged 12–14 years participated in this quasi-experimental study. Participants were allocated by existing school teams, with one team assigned to the experimental group (n = 20) and the other to the control group (n = 20). Both groups completed a six-month training period consisting of three sessions per week. Hand–eye coordination and dribbling-related performance were evaluated using two standardized mobile-application-based field tests with both hands during initial and final assessments. The data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA, with time as the within-subject factor and group as the between-subject factor. Results: The mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant time × group interactions for all assessed outcomes, indicating greater improvements in coordination performance and bilateral upper-limb performance in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results indicate that mobile-application-based training can be a practical and effective approach for developing coordination and supporting bilateral upper-limb performance in youth basketball players.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Children's Physical and Motor Development Sports Performance and Training Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
11
Issue
2
Pages
207–207
Publication date
25 May 2026
Language
EN