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Assessing basketball ability in players with mental retardation
L Guidetti1, E Franciosi, G P Emerenziani
1Department of Health Sciences, University IUSM of Rome, Italy.
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|June 6, 2007
Summary
Four months of basketball training significantly improved skills for athletes with intellectual disabilities, particularly in levels II and III. Lower levels of intellectual disability correlated with higher performance scores.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Disability Studies
- Adapted Physical Education
Background:
- Limited research exists on basketball evaluation tests for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID).
- Athletes with ID play an increasingly significant role in sports.
- Standardized assessments are crucial for tracking progress and optimizing training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate basketball skill improvements in athletes with ID after a 4-month training program.
- To correlate changes in basketball ability with the severity of intellectual disability.
- To provide data for developing targeted training interventions.
Main Methods:
- 15 trained basketball players with ID (mild to profound) participated.
- Athletes were assessed before and after a 4-month pre-championship training period.
- Basketball skills were evaluated across four levels, focusing on ball handling, reception, passing, and shooting.
Main Results:
- Overall team scores improved significantly post-training (41.6 to 48.2).
- Notable improvements were observed in skill levels II and III.
- Specific improvements included ball handling and passing in level II, and reception and shooting in level III.
Conclusions:
- A 4-month training intervention led to general basketball skill enhancement in athletes with ID.
- Improvements were most pronounced in skill levels II and III.
- Higher performance scores in level II were associated with lower levels of intellectual disability.
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