Search

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether a specific coached footwork technique would have any performance benefit compared to a player using their own, intrinsically selected technique. To determine this, 14 elite male basketball players completed planned and un-planned defensive "close-out" movements in a reactive agility test. Experienced and inexperienced players were compared to determine the effect of extended practice with a 'coach' technique compared to their 'own' intrinsic movement patterns. Players were also examined in scrimmage play to determine any transfer from extended practice of the coach technique to game-like situations. Results were recorded in milliseconds, with means log transformed and compared using the effect size statistic for magnitudes of difference. During planned and un-planned trials there were small differences in reaction time between the own and coach techniques for both conditions, in favour of the own technique (planned: 4.0% ± 3.9, ES; 0.41, ±0.40; un-planned: 11.4% ± 5.0, ES; 0.53, ±0.24). Planned movements were significantly faster than unplanned movements over 1.5 metres (6.5%) and 4.94 metres (3.5%). There were no substantial differences between experienced and inexperienced players, with no transfer effect of the coach technique to game-like situations. Coaching players to use footwork other than intrinsic movements does not appear to improve reaction time, or defensive close-out ability in basketball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a list of reviewers of the journal, including Michi Ae, Ross Anderson and Adamantios Arampatzis.

The article lists several reviewers for the November 2011 issue of the journal "Sports Biomechanics" including Richard Baron, Lance Doggart, and Scott Lynn.