The aims of the present study were: (i) to describe the structural and functional attributes of young male Portuguese basketball players aged 12-16 years and (ii) to generate normative data according to chronological age and years from peak height velocity. A total of 281 male Portuguese young basketball players between the ages of 12 and 16 years were assessed in this study. Chronological age, maturity parameters (maturity offset and predicted age at peak height velocity), morphological (body mass, height, and skinfolds and length), and fitness (sprint, change of direction ability, jump, and upper body strength) attributes were measured. Descriptive statistics were determined for the age and maturity status, and the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles were chosen as reference values. Descriptive and normative values of the players' morphological and fitness attributes, stratified by age and maturity status, are provided. The normative values of age at peak height velocity (category YAPHV = 0) showed that regional basketball players presented average values (50th percentile) of 169.8 cm for height, 173.3 cm for arm span, 55.6 kg for body mass, 3.34 s for the 20-m speed test, 10.31 s for the T-test, 4.75 m for the 2-kg medicine ball throw, 66.9 kg for the combined right and left handgrip strength, and 30.1 and 35.9 cm for jump height in the countermovement jump (CMJ) and CMJ with arm swing, respectively. In conclusion, these results may be helpful to quantify and control an athlete's performance over time and to adjust strength and conditioning programs to biological demands.
Keywords: body size; change of direction ability; reference values; strength; talent programs; velocity.
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