Relationship between coordinative abilities and free throw effectiveness in cadet basketball players
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63688/35mzr279Keywords:
coordinative abilities, free throw, basketball, hand-eye coordination, dynamic balanceAbstract
Objective. To analyze the relationship between dynamic balance, hand-eye coordination, spatial orientation, rhythm, reaction, and free-throw effectiveness in cadet basketball players.
Methodology. A quantitative, correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 male players aged 14 to 16 years from Unidad Educativa Rumiñahui, Ambato, Ecuador. Dynamic balance was assessed using a field adaptation of the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test; hand-eye coordination, spatial orientation, rhythm, and reaction were assessed through ad hoc tasks developed for this study based on the conceptual framework of coordinative abilities. Free-throw effectiveness was recorded through 20 regulation free throws, together with an observational guideline based on the BEEF method.
Results. The results showed that hand-eye coordination had the strongest association with free-throw effectiveness (r = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.47–0.85; p < 0.001), followed by dynamic balance (r = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.35–0.81; p < 0.001) and spatial orientation (r = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.14–0.72; p = 0.007). Rhythm showed a weaker association (r = 0.32; 95% CI: −0.05–0.61; p = 0.085), as did reaction (r = 0.08; 95% CI: −0.29–0.43; p = 0.674).
Conclusions. Hand-eye coordination and dynamic balance showed the strongest associations with free-throw effectiveness, followed by spatial orientation. Rhythm and reaction showed weaker associations. Given the correlational and cross-sectional design of the study, these findings should be interpreted as associations between variables rather than evidence of causality.
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