Impact of a 6-Day Official Tournament on Physical Demands, Perceptual–Physiological Responses, Well-Being, and Game Performance of Under-18 Basketball Players

Examining the toll of a 6-day basketball tournament on under-18 elite players sheds light on the nuanced effects of consecutive games on athlete performance and well-being. This comprehensive study closely monitored physical demands, physiological responses, player well-being, and game statistics across the tournament’s duration. Understanding how the players’ bodies and well-being responded throughout this intense schedule provides valuable insights for coaches and trainers aiming to optimize player performance and health in high-stakes multi-day tournaments.

Tournament Impact: A 6-day basketball tournament affected elite under-18 players, leading to changes in their physical demands, including player load, steps, and impacts per minute.

Game Intensity Variation: Initial games (#1) showed higher player load and steps, while impacts were notably higher in the third game (#3), indicating variations in physical demands across the tournament.

Physiological Responses: Peak heart rate varied, notably higher in game #3 compared to the last game (#6), but other physiological measures remained relatively steady throughout.

Player Well-being Decline: Measures reflected a gradual decrease in player well-being as the tournament progressed, suggesting a decline in overall player condition.

Game Statistics Unaffected: Interestingly, despite changes in physical demands, physiological responses, and player well-being, the game statistics remained relatively consistent across all games of the tournament.