Effects of an 8-Week Skill-Based Training Program on Anaerobic Performance in Young Basketball Players: A Comparison of U17 and U19 Athletes
Hamza BUDAK, Mustafa Karahan, Hüseyin Ünlü, Büşra Özdek · Ankara Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu SPORMETRE Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi · 2026
Although many studies have shown that skill-based training is generally effective for young athletes, it is unclear how age affects responsiveness to such training. To date, no study has investigated whether the effects of skill-based training on anaerobic performance in youth male basketball players differ by age. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the age-related effects of maximal-intensity skill-based basketball training on the anaerobic performance of youth athletes. A total of 20 amateur basketball players, comprising the U19 (n = 10) and U17 (n = 10) groups, participated in the study voluntarily. Players underwent maximum-intensity, skill-based basketball training for eight weeks, three days a week, and 80 minutes daily. The players were subjected to 20m sprints, T-run tests, 6x35m running sprint tests (RAST), and vertical jump tests. There were significant improvements (p0.05). The
Results: indicate that maximal intensity skill-based training effectively enhances anaerobic and neuromuscular performance parameters in youth basketball players. However, this effect did not differ by age. The
Findings: suggest that this training model can be applied effectively across different age categories to support athletic development.