Effects of CrossFit™ versus regular training on physical fitness and skills in U12 basketball players: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

CrossFit™ (CF) training has gained popularity as a high-intensity functional training method, but its effectiveness in youth sports remains underexplored. This study examined the impact of CF on the physical fitness and basketball-specific skills of U12 athletes. The objective was to compare the effects of CF training versus regular training on physical performance and basketball-related abilities in U12 basketball players.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 40 male U12 basketball players. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (CF, n = 20) or a control group (regular training, n = 20) for 8 weeks, with 4 sessions per week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included pushups, seated forward bend, standing long jump (SLJ), full-court dribble to layup, 1-minute shooting, 3/4 court sprint (sprint), and a 4-line shuttle run.

RESULTS

The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in pushups (T = -4.158, P < .001), SLJ (T = -10.228, P < .001), sprint (T = 2.121, P = .047), full-court dribble to layup (Z = -3.921, P < .001), and 1-minute shooting (T = -2.373, P = .028). The control group showed modest improvements only in the sprint and SLJ. No significant changes were observed in seated forward bend performance in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

CF training was more effective than conventional methods in enhancing physical fitness and sport-specific skills among U12 basketball players. These findings support the integration of CF into youth basketball programs to promote athletic development.