Correlations between player positions, trunk stability, and functional athletic performance in adolescent female basketball players

Functional performance and physical demands vary by playing position in basketball, with some evidence suggesting differences in speed, agility, and endurance among adolescent athletes. However, the relationship between position-specific roles and measures of trunk stability, balance, and proprioception in female youth players remains underexplored. This study examined the relationships between player positions, trunk stability, and functional performance in adolescent female basketball players. Sixty adolescent female basketball players (28 forwards, 16 centres, 16 guards, mean age = 14.9 ± 1.74 years) were assessed on a 20-metre sprint, 20-metre shuttle run (cardiorespiratory endurance), balance, ankle proprioception, and a modified double-leg lowering task (trunk stability). Differences across playing positions (guard, forward, centre) were analysed using analysis of covariance, controlling for height and weight. Cardiorespiratory endurance significantly differed by position (p = .011), with centres exhibiting lower maximal oxygen consumption (51.6 ± 4.5 ml/kg/min) than forwards (53.5 ± 4.8 ml/kg/min). Sprint times showed no statistically significant differences, although forwards were slightly faster (3.72 ± 0.20 s) than centres (3.83 ± 0.16 s). No significant differences were observed across positions in trunk stability, balance, or ankle proprioception. This study shows that cardiorespiratory endurance is position-dependent in adolescent female basketball players, whereas trunk stability, balance, and ankle proprioception do not vary by position. These findings support the development of targeted training strategies based on playing position and highlight the need for future research to determine whether such functional differences contribute to injury risk or influence performance outcomes, and how early intervention may optimise long-term athlete development.