Contribution of Strength, Speed and Power Characteristics to Change of Direction Performance in Male Basketball Players

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between the modified t-agility test (MAT) time and muscular strength and power of lower limb extensors, adductors (AD), and abductors (AB). Nineteen male basketball players performed: linear sprint tests at 5 m and 20 m, MAT, countermovement (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ), leg press exercise, AD and AB hip maximum isometric strength measurements. All of them were left leg dominant. The correlation analysis showed a significant, moderate to very large negative relationship between MAT test time initiated to the left and height of CMJ and DJ (r = -0.69 and -0.54; p < 0.01, both), left (r = -0.56; p < 0.01) and right leg (r = -0.41; p < 0.05) AD, left leg AB (r = -0.48; p < 0.05) maximum isometric strength, left (r = -0.72; p < 0.01) and right (r = -0.64; p < 0.01) leg power output in leg press. In the case of the MAT test initiated on the right side first, the correlations were found between CMJ height (r = -0.46; p < 0.05), AD and AB maximum isometric strength of left (r = -0.58 and -0.84; p < 0.01, both) and right leg (r = -0.58 and -0.79; p < 0.01, both), and both legs power output in leg press (r = -0.66 for left and r = -0.59 for right; p < 0.01, both). The regression analyses showed that the prediction model of left leg press peak power, left leg AD maximum isometric strength, and CMJ height could explain up to 93% of the MAT test time initiated to the left first. The model, including left leg AB and AD maximum isometric strength, could explain up to 83% of the MAT test time initiated to the right side first. Findings from this study demonstrate that AB and AD maximum isometric muscle strength are highly related to MAT test performance, which is particularly important when the first turn is performed in the non-dominant direction in this test.