Speed, speed dribble and agility of male basketball players playing in different positions

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and compare speed, speed dribble and agility of male basketball players playing in different positions. The research sample consisted of 101 male basketball players from divisions A2, B and C of the Greek National League. The athletes were divided into three groups according to the playing position they played in, playmakers (n=28), forwards (shooting guards and small forwards, n=42) and centres (power forwards and centres, n=31). The athletes performed the 20m speed test with and without dribble, and the 20m shuttle run test for agility. "Photocell HL 2-34 Athletic" (photocell system of TAG HEUER ELECTRONIC TIMING) was used to record times. The variables of the study were related to the performance of the players in the specific tests and the reduction of their maximal speed during dribbling or agility. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was the statistical method used for the comparison of players from different positions. The significance level was set at p<0.05. The results showed that playmakers had the best performance in all tests and the least loss of speed while dribbling or changing directions followed by the forwards and the centres. It is worth noting that the loss of speed while dribbling of centres was comparable with that of playmakers and forwards. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the speed and agility tests between playmakers and centres.