Changes in Skill Performances Due to the Combination of SAQ and Skill-Based Training for the Basketball Players

This study aimed to investigate the impact of combining SAQ (Speed, Agility, and Quickness) training with skill-based drills on the performance of basketball skills. A total of 60 male college basketball players, aged between 18 and 25 years, from various colleges in Tamil Nadu, India, participated in the research. The participants were randomly assigned to four groups of 15 players each: one group received SAQ training, a second group engaged in sport-specific training, a third group underwent a combination of both SAQ and sport-specific training, and the fourth group served as a control. After a 12-week training period, all participants were evaluated on selected skill metrics, specifically dribbling and shooting accuracy. These assessments were conducted using standardized tests—the AAHPERD Control Dribble test and the AAHPERD Speed Spot Shooting test. The training programs for the experimental groups lasted for twelve weeks. Data collection involved measuring the skill performance variables both before and after the training intervention. The data were analyzed using ANCOVA, with a significance level set at 0.05. If the F-ratio for the adjusted means indicated a statistically significant difference, Scheffe’s post hoc test was used to determine which groups differed specifically. Throughout the study, a significance threshold of 0.05 was maintained for hypothesis testing.