Background Understanding youth basketball demands is key for data-driven training and injury prevention. An accurate picture of the physical loads experienced by basketball players during matches can be obtained with Local Positioning System. Methods A total of 224 basketball players (U16, U18, U20; both genders) participated in the study. The inclusion criterion was membership in a Hungarian national youth team. Fifty-one international pre-matches were monitored using WIMU PROTM Local Positioning System (Almería, Spain) during preparatory training camps. The goals of the present study were (1) to establish percentile-based reference table for game-related external and internal load variables, and (2) to examine differences by age group and gender. Reference values were determined with percentile method. We hypothesized that there are significant differences in game-related load variables between different age and gender groups. The effects of gender, age group and their interaction were analyzed using two-way interaction MANOVA and Tukey`s HSD post-hoc test used to detect differences. Results Percentile-based reference tables were developed for external load indicators however, due to the substantial data loss, the internal load data do not meet the criteria to be considered as reference values. Males showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values in explosive distance (7.48-50.44 m), maximal speed (1.42-1.74 m/s), distance of high intensity accelerations (22.97-47.72 m) and decelerations, (12.65-51.20 m), while female outperformed males in average speed (0.09-0.29 m/s), average heart rate (1.42-24.36 bpm), heart rate zone of 80-90% (0.61-4.84%), 90-95% (3.81-8.27%), and 95-200% (0.94-4.34). The U16 group had significantly (p < 0.05) higher values than U18 group in explosive distance (2.16-62.23 m), average speed (0.14-0.42 m/s), and heart rate zones of 95-200% (1.24-5.93%) while U18 group exceeded U16 in heart rate zones 90-95% (0.08-6.08%). Compared to U20 the U16 groups achieved significantly (p < 0.05) higher values in average speed (0.13-0.42 m/s), and HRzones95-200% (0.59-5.54%), meanwhile the U20 outperformed U16 groups in maximal speed (1.42-2.06 m/s), maximal accelerations (0.15-1.08 m/s²) number of high intensity accelerations (5.44-25.41), and decelerations (3.83-22.21), distance of high intensity accelerations (0.45-35.99 m) and decelerations (3.37-58.62 m). Compared to U18 the U20 group achieved significantly (p < 0.05) higher values in maximal accelerations (0.04-1.04 m/s²), distance of high intensity accelerations (9.31-47.83 m), distance of high intensity decelerations (4.99-65.02 m), number of high intensity accelerations (0.86-21.86,93)and decelerations (0,73 - 20,38) and heart rate zone of 80-90% (0.66-7.24%). Conclusion This study provides age- and gender-specific game-related load reference values in youth basketball, supporting coaches in tailoring drills, managing weekly loads, profiling players, and making informed decisions on talent identification and return-to-play.
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