Relationship Between Agility Performance and Cognitive Parameters of Female Basketball Players

Abstract

Objective: This study aims at investigating the relationship between agility performance and perception and decision-making mechanisms of female basketball players.

Materials and Methods: A total of seventeen elite female basketball player playing in Second League in Turkey Basketball Federation participated in this study voluntarily. The mean age of the participants was 21.53±2.47 (years), the mean height was 175.67±5.36 (cm) and the mean body weight was 66.80±7.76 (kg). Agility performance of the participants was measured by Newtest Powertimer 300, and perceptual and decision-making parameters were measured by Psychotechnic Vienna test system. Since the number of participants was less than thirty, Spearman Correlation test was applied.

Findings: The average perception and decision making parameters of female basketball players were as follows: Visual Perception Test (VPT): 46.82±2.65, Reasoning Test (RT): 88.58±9.43, Response Quality and Speed Test (RQST) number of correct answers: 243.76±14.14, RQST time: 0.78±0.06, Speed and Distance Estimation Test (SDET): 45.00±2.76, Dual-Process Skill and Angle of View Test (DPS-AVT) viewing angle: 99.58±7.72, DPS-AVT collision number of cars: 3.76±2.13 and the number of collisions of DPS-AVT road sides: 3.23±2.01 (Table 1). When the correlation between agility performance (total time) and RQST time and SDET parameters was examined, a negative linear relationship was found (r = 0.842/r = 0.827, p < 0.01). However, agility performance (total time) and VPT, RT, RQST number of correct answers, DPS-AVT viewing angle, DPS-AVT car crash number, DPS-AVT roadsides collision parameters were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

As a result, in training contents, preference of visual stimuli, reaction and prediction studies will be important for improving agility. Furthermore, it is thought that cognitive parameters should be taken into consideration in the selection and orientation of athletes.