Differences in the explosive power of basketball players of different age

Physical performance and fitness in basketball are mostly influenced by lower-limb explosive power. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the explosive power of the lower extremities measured by countermovement jump (CMJ) in basketball players of the regional level of competition in relation to the age category. Forty-one male participants regional level were divided in three age categories U18 (N = 14; height: 1.85 ± 0.04 m; body mass: 80.18 ± 10.71 kg; age: 17.2 ± 0.6 years), U16 (N = 13; height: 1.79 ± 0.06 m; body mass: 67.8 ± 7.4 kg; age: 15.4 ± 0.6 years), U14 (N = 14; height: 1.72 ± 0.12 m; body mass: 56.35 ± 14.11 kg; age: 13.2 ± 0.5 years) and participated in cross-sectional study. Each subject performed three maximal CMJs on a Quattro Jump force platform to determine differences in vertical jump parameters between groups. The performances of jump height from flight time (JHFT), relative maximal force (RMF), relative maximal power (RMP), relative energy (RE), jump time (JT), countermovement time (CMT), push-off time (POT). ANOVA analysis showed statistically significant differences between groups in JHFT, RMF, and POT (p less than 0.05). The post hoc test indicates that the youngest U14 age group was accountable for these differences. However, no significant differences were observed between tested age categories in RMP, JT, RE, and CMT. These results reveal differences in some of the force parameters, suggesting that these differences are attributed to the youngest group of basketball players.