Borović, I. et al.: Anthropological profile of U16 basketball players Acta Kinesiologica 10 (2016) Suppl 1: 71‐77 ANTHROPOLOGICAL PROFILE OF U16 BASKETBALL PLAYERS Iva Borović, Tomislav Rupčić, Branka R. Matković, Hrvoje Garafolić and Marin Dadić Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia Original scientific paper Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse the anthropological profile of top level U16 basketball players, members of the Croatia U16 men’s national team, with the aim of defining model values that shall in the future serve the purpose of directing and developing basketball players in the chosen age group. Eleven (11) potential members of the U16 men’s national basketball team participated in this research, with an average age of15.72±0.44 years. The variable sample was composed of morphological characteristics and tests for evaluating motor and functional skills. Data processing was implemented by applying the statistical software package Statistica for Windows, ver. 12. Basic descriptive statistical parameters were calculated and demonstrated for each variable. On the basis of the obtained results for the measured morphological characteristics, the conclusion can be made that, already in the U16 age category, a difference can be noticed between the longitudinal and transverse dimensionality of the skeleton between the guard – forward – centre player positions, although a complete specialisation for each single player position is very often not final at that age. Likewise, results obtained for the percentage of body fat indicate that all players in this sample group of examinees have an optimal body composition. In almost all motor skill tests, the best results are achieved by guards, whereas the biggest differences between players in different positions are noticeable in tests for examining speed, agility and explosive strength. Aerobic and anaerobic capacities are well developed in all players and they meet the high demands of playing modern basketball. Key words: basketball, morphological characteristics, motor and functional skills, U16. Introduction In terms of its structure as a game, basketball is a complex sports activity. During a basketball game, activities of very high intensity alternate with those of lower intensity so that it can easily be concluded that in order to be successful in playing basketball, in addition to primary technical and tactical skills, a player must also have his physical conditioning level and motor skills and abilities developed at a very high and enviable level. Motor skills are often presented as the starting point of each motor action, and in basketball some of those motor skills have a high predictive value in a successful final performance of specific motor movement (knowledge). With regard to the complexity of motor movements (techniques) which players perform with and without the ball, it can be concluded that coordination is one of the more relevant motor abilities in basketball (Kamandulis et al., 2013). In addition to coordination, during various changes of direction, both when in defence (movement in the defensive stance or while avoiding a player’s screen attempt), as well as when in offence (while opening up for a pass or changing direction while dribbling the ball), movement agility is also exceptionally significant. The aspect of basketball precision covers two important elements – passing precision and shooting precision. Shooting precision by all means greatly determines a player’s efficiency, however nowadays the segment of passing precision also has a high predictive value (Matković, R.B., Matković, B., Knjaz, D., 2005; Matković, B., Knjaz, D., Rupčić, T., 2014). Along with the previously mentioned ones, certain other motor abilities also highly influence the level of playing efficiency, such as speed, particularly reaction time, strength (explosive strength of upper and lower extremities), as well as balance which is manifested during almost all specific movements during a basketball game (shooting, passing, moving in the defensive stance, landings, etc.). Upon observing basketball from the physiological viewpoint, the conclusion can be made that players require both a well-developed aerobic and anaerobic capacity. The aerobic capacity is mostly represented in connection with fast organism recovery during short break periods (time out, free throw(s), etc.), whereas the anaerobic capacity is mostly represented during the game by way of continual accelerations, changes of direction, defensive and offensive rebounds, i.e. in all types of movements that are characterised by a high movement intensity. In the process of analysing morphological characteristics from the aspect of longitudinal and transverse dimensionality of the skeleton in basketball players, their emphasis is a long-known fact, as well as their impact on playing efficiency in basketball (Matković, B. and Matković, R.B., 1986). The aim of this study was to determine and analyse the anthropological profile of top level U16 basketball players according to player positions with the purpose of defining model values that shall in the future then serve as a means for directing, developing and correcting training plans and programmes for all basketball players in the mentioned age category (U16). 71