Effects of the experimental basketball program on the motor abilities of younger school-age children

The study was conducted with the aim of determining the effects of an experimental basketball program on explosive strength and sprinting speed in younger school-aged girls. The research was carried out on a sample of 65 participants, members of the "Bears" basketball school from South Korea, attending the "Branksome Hall Asia" international girls' school on Jeju Island, South Korea, in 2017. To assess motor abilities, the following variables were applied: 10m sprint from a standing start, 20m sprint from a standing start, 30m sprint from a standing start, 60m sprint from a standing start, standing long jump, standing triple jump, and Sargent's jump test. The results of the MANCOVA and ANCOVA analyses indicate statistically significant effects of the intervention on the following variables: 10 m, 30 m, and 60 m sprints from a standing start, and standing triple jump, in favor of the experimental group. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the experimental basketball program lasting 3 months has positive effects on the sprinting speed and explosive strength of the lower extremities.