Using basketball test battery to monitor players with mental retardation across 2 sports seasons

Although sport for athletes with mental retardation (MR) is achieving an
important role, literature concerning basketball test and training
is still poor. The aims of this study were to assess basketball
ability before (PRE) and after (POST) a 6-month training in
athletes with MR across 2 sports seasons (ss) and to analyze
the variation of basketball abilities by subjects’ MR level. Fifteen
trained basketball players with MR participated (11 men and 4
women; age range 19–43 years; MR: 3 Mild, 8 Moderate, 3
Severe, and 1 Profound). Athletes were tested PRE and POST
a 6-month training during 2 following sports seasons (ss1 and
ss2). The tests assessed 4 ability levels, each one characterized
by the analysis of 4 fundamental areas (ball handling,
reception, passing, and shooting), divided into 5 specific
components. The athletes’ global score improved after training in both ss1 (41.5 6 12.0 vs. 48.6 6 15.4; p , 0.01) and ss2 (41.7 6 12.4 vs. 50.8 6 16.2; p , 0.01). Levels II, III, and IV showed an increase both after each ss and the 2 following ss
(p , 0.01). No significant difference was found between
POST-ss1 and POST-ss2 due to score decrease during the
resting period between the 2 ss. In both ss, global and level scores were negatively correlated to MR level indicating that athletes with a lower MR obtained higher ability scores. In conclusion, a 6-month training caused a general improvement, especially evident in levels II and III in both ss. Global and level scores were negatively correlated to MR level (p , 0.05) indicating that athletes with a lower MR obtained higher scores. Therefore, the basketball test battery could be useful for improving and monitoring training.