ASSOCIATION OF SELECTED KINEMATIC VARIABLES WITH SPEED OF BASKETBALL PLAYERS

The aim of this study was to find out the association of selected kinematic variables on speed of the basketball players. The investigator selected 15 basketball players who represented Annamalai University in the inter University competition were randomly selected as subjects. They were in the age group of 19 to 23 years. The results proved that speed of the basketball players were significantly associated with kinematic variables such as right foot to left foot step length time (0.72), left foot to right foot step length (0.86), left foot to right foot step length time (0.65), stride length (0.97) and stride length time (0.93). It was proved that speed of the basketball players were not significantly associated with kinematic variables of right foot ground contact time (0.11), right foot flight time (0.24), right foot to left foot step length (0.40), and angle of lead leg knee joint (0.03 ). The multiple correlation results showed that the obtained ‘R’ value is 0.626 and the ‘R’ square is 0.392. This proved that the selected kinematic variables contributed for speed performance of basketball players only 39%, which is less than the required level fixed for this study. It was proved that the selected kinematic variables do not significantly contribute for speed performance of basketball players. It was concluded that the effect of any specific coaching on speed of basketball players cannot be assessed in relation with the selected kinematic variables to improve the speed performance of the players.