The discriminative, criterion, and longitudinal validity of small-sided games to assess physical fitness in female basketball players

Gil, E. F., Rodríguez-Fernández, A., Vaquera, Alejandro, Suárez-Iglesias, D. and Scanlan, A. T. (2023) The discriminative, criterion, and longitudinal validity of small-sided games to assess physical fitness in female basketball players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41 (15). pp. 1498-1506. ISSN 1466-447X

Abstract

The validity of small-sided games (SSG) for assessing physical fitness was evaluated in 21 female basketball players from senior (n = 8), under-18 years (n = 6), and under-16 years (n = 7) age categories. Players underwent fitness testing (countermovement jump [CMJ], agility T-test, repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test [YYIRT1]) and 3vs3-SSG before and after a 6-week preseason. Player demands were monitored during SSG using local positioning system and heart rate technology. Regarding discriminative validity, senior players produced better CMJ, agility T-test, and YYIRT1 performance (p  < 0.05, effect size [ES] = 1.72–2.25), and more distance and PlayerLoad (p  < 0.05, ES = 1.53–2.47) during SSG than under-18 players following the preseason. For criterion validity, total distance and distance completing high-intensity decelerations during SSG were significantly (p  < 0.05) correlated with CMJ (r = 0.44–0.66), YYIRT1 (r = 0.43–0.63), agility T-test (total distance only, r=-0.51), and RSA test performance (r=-0.49 to −0.52) among all players combined following the preseason. Regarding longitudinal validity, significantly better agility T-test and YYIRT1 performance (p ≤ 0.001, ES = 0.88–0.93) alongside lower heart rate during SSG (p = 0.001, ES = 0.88) were evident for all players combined following the preseason. These results partially support the validity of 3vs3-SSG to assess physical fitness in female basketball players.

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