Diagnosis of kinematic parameters of running stride and acceleration of U13 and U15 basketball players using Optojump Next device

The aim of our study is to substantiate and confirm the importance of the level of running stride parameters and explosive power of the lower limbs of young basketball players in achieving acceleration speed. The research population consisted of U13 (n = 11) and U15 (n = 16) players who have been participating in a regular specialized training program for at least 2 years. Testing was conducted using the Optojump next device in the 15 m acceleration race. The literature refers to the 1st and 2nd running steps as key. In our study, we focused on the evaluation of the first 6 running steps. We performed 3 vertical jump protocols (CMJ (counter movement jump), CMJ- free arms and SQ (squat jump)) to determine the level of explosive power of the lower limbs. We observed a significant relationship between the level of acceleration velocity and CMJ (p < 0.05, r = -0.610), CMJ-free arms (p < 0.05, r = -0.728) in the U13 category. In the U15 category, a significant relationship was found in CMJ (p < 0.01, r = - 0.720), CMJ-free arms (p < 0.01, r = - 0.688) and SQ (p < 0.01, r = - 0.872). In the U13 category, we observed a significant relationship between the level of acceleration speed at 15 m and pad contact time in the 4th (p < 0.01, r = 0.740) running stride. Running stride length was not significant with acceleration speed level in the U13 category. In the U15 category, we observed a significant relationship between the level of acceleration speed at 15 m and the contact time with the mat in the 1st (p < 0.05, r = 0.619), 3rd (p < 0.01, r = 0.709), 5th (p < 0.01, r = 0.783) and 6th (p < 0.05, r = 0.593) running stride. Running stride length in relation to acceleration velocity was not significant in either running stride in the U15 category.