Practice Within 24 Hours Of Competitive Play Compromises Performance In Collegiate Basketball

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Virtual

Date of Presentation

5-30-2020

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000686980.44327.30

Volume

52

Issue

7S

First Page

1046

Abstract

The NCAA regulates collegiate basketball practice schedules, imposing limitations on daily and weekly practice duration. Coaches seldom schedule fewer hours than permitted and commonly maximize participation within those limitations. There is reason to wonder: does maximum engagement correspond to optimal preparation? PURPOSE: To test the effect of pre-game practice on in-game performance in women’s collegiate basketball. METHODS: We analyzed 15 female basketball players on an NCAA D1 team throughout the 2018-2019 season. Heart rate monitors and GPS trackers were worn during all games (n=33) and practices. Data collected were maximum heart rate (HRmax) and total distance moved in games and practices, whether the team won, win-loss margin, and individual athlete rebounds and points scored per game. Paired-samples t-tests, linear regressions, and logistic regressions tested the effect of pre-game practice on in-game performance. RESULTS: The analyzed team won 60.6% of games. When practice was performed within 24hr of a game, winning percentage was 33.3% compared to 70.8% in games without prior practice (p<0.001). Holding constant the opponent’s rank (p<0.001) and whether it was a home game (p<0.001), practicing within 24hr of competition reduced the odds of winning by 98.2% (p<0.001; 95% CI of OR: 0.007 to 0.049) and reduced the win-loss margin by 4.7 points (p=0.001; 95% CI: -7.398 to -1.962). During games, players ran 6,735.1 ± 2,268.4 meters and had a HRmaxof 98.6 ± 9.3. There was no difference in HRmaxduring practices that did and did not occur within 24hr of a game (p=0.598). During games, HRmaxwas elevated 2.4 bpm if practice occurred in the previous 24hr (p=0.045; 95% CI: -4.6 to -0.1) despite no difference in on-court movement (p=0.243). Holding confounding variables constant, practicing within 24hr prior predicted trends for each player to score 1.8 fewer points (p=0.067; 95% CI: -3.7 to 0.1) and accomplish 0.9 fewer rebounds (p=0.079; 95% CI: -1.8 to 0.1). CONCLUSION: These data do not support a "more is better" approach to collegiate basketball practice schedules. When practice occurs within 24hr of a game, despite elevated in-game cardiovascular effort of the athletes, individual and team performances are compromised.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS