Energetic Profile of the Basketball Exercise Simulation Test in Junior Elite Players.

PURPOSE

To analyze the energetic profile of the Basketball Exercise Simulation Test (BEST).

METHODS

Ten male elite junior basketball players (age 15.5 [0.6] y, height 180 [9] cm, and body mass 66.1 [11.2] kg) performed a modified BEST (20 circuits consisting of jumping, sprinting, jogging, shuffling, and short breaks) simulating professional basketball game play. Circuit time, sprint time, sprint decrement, oxygen uptake (VO), heart rate, and blood lactate concentration (blc) were obtained. Metabolic energy and metabolic power above rest (W and P), as well as energy share in terms of aerobic (W), glycolytic (W), and high-energy phosphates (W), were calculated from VO during exercise, net lactate production, and the fast component of postexercise VO kinetics, respectively.

RESULTS

W, W, and W reflect 89% (2%), 5% (1%), and 6% (1%) of total energy needed, respectively. Assuming an aerobic replenishment of PCr energy stores during short breaks, the adjusted energy share yielded W 66% (4%), W 5% (1%), and W 29% (1%). W and W were negatively correlated (-0.72 and -0.59) with sprint time, which was not the case for W.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent with general findings on energy system interaction during repeated high-intensity exercise bouts, the intermittent profile of the BEST relies primarily on aerobic energy combined with repetitive supplementation by anaerobic utilization of high-energy phosphates.