Abstract:
Background and Study Aim With its dynamic and constantly changing characteristics, basketball, which requires more than one movement, is one of the most preferred and popular team sports in the world. It is important to know that basketball requires programs based on speed, agility and strength fitness components, in which endurance and strength parameters are predominant. In this context, resistance training, which provides skill excellence and increased muscle strength, is important for basketball players. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of 4-week specific core training applied to preadolescent and adolescent children who do basic basketball training on explosive strength. Material and Methods A total of 16 [Control Group (CG): n=8; Experimental Group (EG): n=8] individuals (age 13.29 ± 1.96 years) who did not have any health problems from basketball school and continued basketball basic training were included in the study. The groups continued their usual basketball basic training program (2 days a week, 60 minutes a day). However, in addition to the basic training program, the experimental group was subjected to an isometric training program for 12-minute core strengthening. Training programs were made for a total of 4 weeks. We examined the effects of core training on speed, vertical jump and agility parameters. Statistical analyzes of the data obtained as a result of the research were obtained using the IBM SPSS 23.0 package program. Results There was no difference between the groups for sprint and vertical jump parameters of core and basic basketball training (p>0.05). However, there was a significant difference in favor of EG in the agility test analysis results (p<0.05). As a result, we can say that 4-week core training applied in addition to the basic basketball training program in children improves agility characteristics. Conclusions The findings showed that core training programs have positive effects on explosive strength parameters. In addition, strengthening the core area significantly improved the agility parameter, which is important in ground-direction changes. This, in parallel with the studies, supported that core training programs should be an integral part of other training programs. This study also showed that core stabilization training applied in a short time improves explosive strength parameters in children. © Nurkan Yılmaz, 2022.