Into The Basket:Current Research and Future Possibilities Around Basketball

Contents:

Abstract ____________________________________________________

Introduction ____________________________________________________

What is Sports Science ____

What We Hope To Learn ____

Section 1 ____________________________________________________

Biomechanics Of Basketball:

Exploration Of Past Research_____

Applications_____

Implications For Further Development_____

Section 2 ____________________________________________________

Biochemistry Of Basketball:

Exploration Of Past Research_____

Applications_____

Implications For Further Developement_____

Conclusion ____________________________________________________

References ____________________________________________________

Report 1:

Into the Basket: Current Research and Future Possibilities Around Basketball’s Biochemistry and Biomechanics

Abstract

______________________________________________________________________________

Sports Science is the field of science that specifically explores the possibilities of the human body in terms of the action of competing and participating in athletic events. Here, we will be diving into the sports science of basketball in terms of specifically biomechanics and biochemistry, two main components in understanding the potential of a high-performance athlete.It’s past and present research has had many implications on the training and techniques that professional players utilize to make their game better. This review’s purpose is to understand the research that has been done, its applications, as well as the possibilities for future research, and its potential effects on the capabilities of the human body in terms of the game of basketball.

______________________________________________________________________________

Introduction

____________________________________________________________

What is Sports Science?

As mentioned, sport’s science is a field that encompasses many areas and subsets of the analysis and potential of the human body’s capabilities in terms of athletically based activities. Many people may initially think of the ESPN show “Sports Science” where they brought in professional athletes and analyzed their specialties, and while that show perfectly depicts part of what sports science is, it didn’t make it accessible to everyday people. But, that’s not the case at all. As much of sports science research uses high performing athletes in the field, its applications also work on everyday people. For example, if you were to walk into a Road Runner Sports right now to buy a pair of shoes, you would be walked through a series of “experiments’ testing to see what shoe/insole works best for your stride. This, just one example of sports science’s connection to us. But, the research around sports science also includes medical applications, such as how the human body participating in such activities could potentially reduce the risk of developing certain illnesses or diseases. Overall, sports science is about allowing the body to reach its full potential.

_____________________________________________________________________________

What We Hope To Learn:

Through this review, the hope is to understand the research that has already been done in regards to the biomechanics and biochemistry of basketball, to understand its implications on the game (both professionally and for your average joe), and the future of the field. In terms of biomechanics, we will explore becoming a more efficient player, and the implications footwear technology has on that. In terms of biochemistry, we will understand hormonal and biochemical changes while training, stress at the beginning vs end of a season, and the differences between different training models. We hope to be able to understand who did this research and how it changed the way they treat the game of basketball. We will also explore some of the current technology that is accessible to get metrics on performance and better understand the future landscape of sports science in terms of basketball.

Section 1: Biomechanics

________________________________________________________________________

Exploration Of Past Research:

Past research done on the topic of the biomechanics of basketball has dived into many specific elements of basketball, but some of the most common seem to regard shooting form, movement around the court, and a basketball player’s accessories, specifically their sneakers. These questions have been explored by researchers all around the world, as well as with different levels of players as the subjects. A scientific exploration done by VictVictor Hugo Alves Okazaki1 and André Luiz Félix Rodacki attempted to answer the question, what happens to a player’s jumpshot as the distance from the hoop increases? The study used ten male players as subjects with specific age and practice restraints. After warming up, “reflective markers (1.5 cm in diameter) were placed on the skin and clothes and allowed to reconstruct the movement in two dimensions” (Okazaki & Rodacki, 2012). They then shot ten times from three different distances, with instruction to not try and use the backboard. After analysis, the study was concluded by these takeaways: Takeaways:

• “The increased distance leads to greater spatial con-straint over shot movement that demands an adapta-tion of the movement for the regulation of the accu-racy and the impulse generation to release the ball.

• The reduction in balls release height and release angle, in addition to the increase in balls release velocity, were suggested as the main factors that decreased shot accuracy with the distance increased.

• Players should look for release angles of shooting that provide an optimal balls release velocity to im-prove accuracy” (Okazaki & Rodacki, 2012).

The first takeaway explains how as you shoot from further away, more is required of your body in terms of the work you need to applyto the ball for it to travel the distance. Additionally, your body needs to adapt change to accommodate for that extra force that needs to be applied. The second takeaway outlines what makes shooters have less accuracy. The lower your release angle, the less possibility of making the shot because you are effectively shrinking the hoop. If you think about looking at a circle from directly above, vs from a tilted angle, when you look at the circle form above it will look larger. This same thing happens with the hoop which is why some of the most lethal shooters in the league have high release angles. For example, Stephen Curry who is third on the all time three-pointers made list (Basketball Reference, 2019), shoots with a 58.1 degree release angle (“The physics of free-throw shooting – Secrets of Shooting,” 2020), which is above the average of 53.4 degrees (inpredictable, 2015). Additionally, increase in release velocity decreases the chance of a basket. In the game, there is something most commonly known as “shooters touch”, in which the ball comes soft off the rim. Clearly, the lower the velocity when the ball reaches the rim, the higher possibility of shooters touch and the ball falling into the basket. The third and final conclusion explains that we all need to find our optimal release. As your height changes, the angle you need to get the ball above the rim changes, so your release angle will as well. Your release angle will also depend on your strength and ability to keep your form as you get further away. All of these factors combined clearly outline the most optimal jump shot and the physics behind it. Looking at specifically the way a basketball player moves in-game, in 2014, Nike released a scientific study focused on agility. Acknowledging that “The game of basketball demands multi-directional speed during both offensive and defensive gameplay” (Conrad, 2014), Bryan Conrad and the Nike team explored how explosiveness and change of speed/ direction makes you a better and more efficient player. They had to complete a series of agility based tests including the Y-Drill, Circle Drill, T-Agility drill, as well as a few more. After testing, they determined that: “ a number of sports have demonstrated a strong link between agility and optimal performance in sport. Agility can be improved through training, but because of the multifactorial nature of the skill, training regimens can be quite varied, and it is likely that there is room to improve sport-specific agility training programs. In addition to improving agility through training, it has been shown that footwear can have a significant impact on agility performance” (Conrad, 2014). This shows that there isn’t just one way to become a more agile player. It’s more about finding what works for you. This “feel” approach to improvement directly aligns with the topic of finding your shot explored in the previous research. Moreover, it must be pointed out that external factors play a large role as well, such as your footwear. The better participants' traction, the more force you will be able to put into the ground and thus get back. The more force you get back, the quicker you will be able to change direction and explode. In a study asking the question, how does basketball footwear stiffness affect ankle and foot movement, they furthered the discussion around the importance of shoe choice in basketball. They had each participant wear the same model of shoe, one with a regular midsole, and the other with a fiberglass plate fitted into the midsole. After various exercises, they concluded that “Results of this study indicate that modifications in midsole stiffness of a basketball shoe can alter foot and ankle biomechanics during single-leg jump landings. This modification is commonly used in clinical settings, as it may reduce the risk of a foot injury and/or allow for a quicker return to play by reducing MTP and interphalangeal joint motion” (Taylor et al., 2019). So, there isn’t necessarily a performance boost or decrease, but rather it lessens the likelihood of foot or ankle related injuries while jumping. This could prove useful to athletes who dunk a lot. Dunking requires a lot of jumping, especially off of one foot. So, allowing those athletes to perform more dunks with less fatigue and fewer injuries could be a game-changer. This research brings up the question of if footwear should be regulated more in high-performance environments. Could certain shoes provide an actual advantage to the ones that wear them? It’s clear that the biomechanics of basketball have been explored incredibly in-depth, especially regarding conversations around shooting and agility. But, as footwear technology grows, it seems necessary that they are being tested against its competitors to ensure fair competition. As much of basketball is about skill, practice, and feel, it also seems like external factors will continue to grow and become a larger part of the game.

_______________________________________________________________________

Applications:

Basketball is a dynamic sport. It requires a lot from the athlete both physically and mentally. The game requires players to both find what works for them, and the best product on the market to allow them to compete to their full potential. The biomechanics of basketball tell us a lot about what we can do to optimize our performance and what is out of our control. Many people may view shooting as a diagnosable problem. Do this and you will make more shots! But this research shows that that isn’t the case. It’s about developing and practicing your shot; finding what works for you.Training requires that same approach as well. Some drills will work for some but not for others. It’s the trial and error of figuring out what makes you a better athlete. As much of the game is in your hands, footwear isn’t. To be able to put the most force into the ground and get the most force out, you need the shoes with the best traction. As footwear technology improves, this gap will only grow and it will be up to us to make sure basketball is a fair game for everyone, regardless of what shoes they can afford. Basketball is a sport for everyone and we need to keep it that way.

________________________________________________________________________

Implications For Further Development: “Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise.” -Kobe Bryant Every development moving forward needs to be about accessibility and fairness. People should be able to understand how the game works, no matter of skill level or economic status. Additionally, we need to make sure work that’s being done is fair and unbiased.No one should be trying to prove a point. It’s about learning and growth, rather than equipping people with tools that just totally change the game. We need to better understand how our bodies operate and go from there, rather than a shoe that makes you jump 10 inches higher.

______________________________________________________________________

Section 2: Biochemistry

________________________________________________________________________

Exploration Of Past Research:

Biochemistry in basketball explores what happens inside while playing or even just thinking about the game. How do our bodies react and does it have a positive or negative effect? One study asked the question, what happens to stress markers in elite players at the beginning vs the end of the season? They selected 14 elite players from European professional teams to participate. They took blood and plasma samples at the beginning and end of the 32-week season and compared the results. Phase 1 indicated the beginning and phase 2 indicated the end of the season. Concluding the results, they found that “the sORP value, which is indicative of the current redox status, increased significantly (P<0.05) by 9.6% at phase 2 compared to phase 1 (Fig. 1). As regards the other oxidative stress markers, the CARB and TBARS levels which are indicative of protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, respectively were not significantly affected (Fig. 2A and B). However, TAC was significantly increased (P<0.05) by 12.9% (Fig. 2C) at phase 2 compared to phase 1. In addition, the GSH levels in erythrocytes were significantly decreased (P<0.05) by 35% at phase 2 compared to phase 1 (Fig. 3A), whereas CAT activity was not affected” (SPANIDIS et al.,2015). So, the redox or balance between oxidants increased during the end of the season. This indicates that there was more chemical imbalance at the end of the season than at the beginning. This makes me beg the question, what would this look like for amateur, younger players? I feel like I am far more nervous about the first game then the end of the season because of the anticipation of starting. Would a study on kids show a difference and prove that pros get less nervous in general/ at the start of a season because it is their job? The study also found that there wasn’t much of a difference for any of the other indicators, which makes me wonder if the redox rate is truly indicative of overall stress, and if they could have selected better chemical elements to determine their results from? Furthering the idea of the mental load basketball can take, another study compared “The Relationships Between Internal and External Training Load Models During Basketball Training” (Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, & Dalbo, 2014). The goal of the study was to determine effective methods of training athletes and the correlation to the load on the players. Eight semi-pro players took part in the experiment, completing different training activities with a “Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test” (Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, & Dalbo, 2014) between the activities almost as a palette cleanser. After testing, their conclusions were summarized in this graph:

This shows that the physiological intensity was higher than the perceptual intensity, showing that there isn’t a direct correlation between internal vs external training models. This research and finding is particularly interesting because as noted in the discussion, “existing research has demonstrated internal and external training load models to possess very large relationships (11,33,34), supporting the commonality of sRPE and HR-based training load models with the accelerometer training load model in field-based team sports”(Scanlan, Wen, Tucker, & Dalbo, 2014). This difference in result makes you question who is right? When people are saying different things, who do you believe? Clearly this project was very in depth, but to get a more well-rounded conclusion, they could have used more players from a greater range of ages and skill levels. It is important to recognize that this is the first specific study focused on just basketball, so another study by a different group asking the same question could further prove this hypothesis or side with the field sport theory. For me, I know I pretty much have PTSD at this point from coaches saying “get on the line” so I wonder if they used activities that tend to “scare” people or if they weren’t as physically exhausting as running suicides. Another study explored the hormonal and biochemical changes in specifically elite basketball players. As subjects, they used 10 members of the men’s Israeli national team over the 4-week period leading up to the championships. To test, they were asked questions and had blood taken before and after the practices. It is important to note that “Initial training vol- ume was high and subsequently tapered toward the end of the training camp” (“Hormonal and Biochemical Changes in Elite Basketball... : The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research,” 2020). For the questions, they answered on a scale from zero to four, zero being “extremely” and four being “not at all.” After analyzing, they determined that muscle soreness both overall and in legs specifically was by far rated the highest around day nine. Additionally, quality of sleep was rated by far the highest on day nine and the lowest on day 28. Testosterone and cortisol responses say a steady incline over the weeks. One of the most distinct examinations of this study went as follows: “An additional problem, which became apparent dur- ing this study, involves the diagnosis of overreaching or overtraining. According to Kuipers and Keizer (14), and Fry et al. (7), overreaching or overtraining is iden- tified by a decrease in performance. In sports such as swimming or track and field, where objective mea- sures of performance are easily obtainable, this does not present a large problem. However, in a team sport such as basketball, where performance comprises various components, an objective measure of performance may be more difficult to achieve. In such instances, an early diagnosis of overtraining may need to be deter- mined solely by changes in physiological measures” (“Hormonal and Biochemical Changes in Elite Basketball... : The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research,” 2020). The idea of this needing to be treated differently in a team sport like basketball is interesting because it is not as easy to determine individual performance when it is also dependent on team performance. There is no “personal record” in basketball besides points, steals, assists, blocks, etc. It brings up an interesting question of if you can ever truly determine the performance of an individual in a team setting objectively? This topic of diagnosing overtraining is something that hits very close to home for me. Growing up, all I played was soccer. I became quite good, joined a competitive team, and by age 11 was practicing 4 times a week and playing all around California every weekend. Even though my performance was high, I wasn’t having fun doing it anymore. So, in 7th grade, I was burnt out and stopped playing. It’s a discussion that needs to be had in sports if athletes are being overworked and effects on them outside of the game. Even though this study didn’t come up with super conclusive results, it does introduce the conversation of mental health in sport. Overall, biochemistry in basketball encompasses more than just slight chemical changes, it’s about the way thinking and playing basketball makes people feel and determining if that response is a healthy one or not.

________________________________________________________________________

Applications:

The applications of the biochemistry of basketball and its research are endless. There are so many elements of how we react to things and how our biology reflects that. The research done so far has really thought about the training aspect, and the lead up and stress associated with gameplay. The research can be applied to the way that coaches and players can approach the game. There is a certain aspect of discipline and self-advocating it takes to say “this isn’t healthy for me” and to put mental health before physical performance. As noted, basketball is a team sport and these priorities need to be made as a team to ensure that it is a safe space for players to take a step back. Coaches could be put through training programs on the scientific evidence to back up this approach, just like teachers take classes on project based learning. Moving forward, we need to continue these conversations and share this research and future research to ensure sports are a positive environment for everyone.

________________________________________________________________________

Implications For Further Development:

The implications of this research mean everything and need to be taken into account. They bring up these questions that need to be talked about:

• How can we keep people involved/ make sports healthy mentally as well?

• Where do we draw the line between performance and mental health?

• Ways to do a mental health check without fancy equipment?

In terms of making sports a mentally healthy space, I think as mentioned before, organizations need to be all in. One of my favorite quotes is the power of the second person. That takes one person’s belief or idea and allows others to see that they can join as well. We need teams to feel comfortable and that it isn’t weak to do a mental health check. Generally, I think kids should be encouraged to try new things and not be stuck doing the same thing for years and years. Competitive sports shouldn’t take so much time, and if they do, the mental health checks are that much more important. I think the more research that can be done on the subject to better understand the human mind specifically can also be stepping stones in bridging this gap between prioritizing health not just in the physical sense. In terms of drawing the line between physical performance and mental health, I think it’s both case by case, and a team decision as well. Many athletes have the tendency to push themselves too hard with the goal of improvement, and while that is great, as shown by the research, stress isn’t always great. So, I feel in some sense, it is up to the coaches to let their players know he/ she wants them to improve, but not at a loss for the love of the game. It would be interesting to see research done with two different coaching styles and analyzing both the performance and mental health differences between the players to show if there is a correlation or not. In terms of mental health checks without fancy equipment, there can definitely be more research done on the most effective questions to ask, or telltale signs that someone may be experiencing a dip in mental health. Overall, I think the biochemistry of basketball and sports, in general, is almost the most important aspect as it helps tell us how players enjoy and react to different elements of competition and training.

Conclusion

________________________________________________________________________

This research demonstrates just how unique of a game basketball is. There are clear teaching opportunities on both the physical and mental side of the game. Basketball needs to be about self and team development, both in how we play and become more efficient/ better players, but also how we manage the stress and toll that the game can take. Basketball is a sport that gives and it takes. The highs are high and the lows can be low. The biomechanics of the game can tell us the most effective ways to develop our shots and what creates the most agile and efficient player. Biochemistry can tell us how our body reacts to stress and the mental elements of basketball. It’s clearly not just a game. Basketball is a community, a culture, and a “game” that pushes people to their limits in an attempt to work together to put a ball in a hoop. The research that has been done and future research will continue to show us what basketball is and will become.

References

________________________________________________________________________

Bangor University. (2020). What is Sports Science? | School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences | Bangor University. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from Bangor.ac.uk website: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/sport-health-and-exercise-sciences/what-is-sports-science.php.en

Basketball Reference. (2019). NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals | Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from Basketball-Reference.com website: https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_career.html

Conrad, B. (2014). The Biomechanics of Basketball Agility. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bryan_Conrad/publication/281782502_Biomechanics_of_Basketball_Agility/links/55f8401c08aeafc8ac0c0a70/Biomechanics-of-Basketball-Agility.pdf

Hormonal and Biochemical Changes in Elite Basketball... : The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. (2020). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from LWW website: https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/1999/08000/Hormonal_and_Biochemical_Changes_in_Elite.17.aspx

inpredictable. (2015). Introducing ShArc: Shot Arc Analysis. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from unpredictable website: https://www.inpredictable.com/2015/05/introducing-sharc-shot-arc-analysis.html?showComment=1433032339192#:~:text=A%20typical%20player%20his%20height,an%20angle%20of%2053.4%20degrees.

Okazaki, V. H. A., & Rodacki, A. L. F. (2012). Increased distance of shooting on basketball jump shot. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 11(2), 231–237. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3737873/

Scanlan, A. T., Wen, N., Tucker, P. S., & Dalbo, V. J. (2014). The Relationships Between Internal and External Training Load Models During Basketball Training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(9), 2397–2405. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000000458

‌SPANIDIS, Y., GOUTZOURELAS, N., STAGOS, D., MPESIOS, A., PRIFTIS, A., BAR-OR, D., … KOURETAS, D. (2015). Variations in oxidative stress markers in elite basketball players at the beginning and end of a season. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 11(1), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2843

Taylor, J. B., Nguyen, A.-D., Parry, H. A., Zuk, E. F., Stewart Pritchard, N., & Ford, K. R. (2019). MODIFYING MIDSOLE STIFFNESS of BASKETBALL FOOTWEAR AFFECTS FOOT and ANKLE BIOMECHANICS. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 14(3), 359–367. https://doi.org/10.26603/ijspt20190359

The physics of free-throw shooting – Secrets of Shooting. (2020). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from Secretsofshooting.com website: https://secretsofshooting.com/physics-based-basketball-shooting/#:~:text=However%2C%20Stephen%20Curry%20does%20not,as%20it%20nears%20the%20rim.

‌________________________________________________________________________

Into the Basket: Current Research and

Future Possibilities Around Basketball’s

Biochemistry and Biomechanics‌