3×3 Basketball: Inertial Movement and Physiological Demands During Elite Games

Montgomery, P.G., Maloney, B.D.

The purpose of this study was to determine the demands of elite male and female 3×3 basketball games and compare them between various competition levels. A total of 361 males and 208 females competing in different championships and tournaments had their game demands assessed using wearable technology such as GPS, inertial measurement, and heart rate monitors. Post-game blood lactate levels and perceived responses were also recorded.

The results showed that the PlayerLoadTM and PlayerLoadTM∙min-1 during play were 127.5 ± 31.1 and 6.7 ± 1.5 for males, and 128.5 ± 32.0 and 6.5 ± 1.4 for females, respectively, with small differences observed between junior, senior, and professional levels. There were also small differences in accelerations and decelerations >3.5m·s between competition levels, with European championships generally exhibiting greater values than other levels.

On average, the game heart rate was 165 ± 18 bpm-1 for males and 164 ± 12 bpm-1 for females, with no significant difference between levels. Similarly, the average rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was 5.7 ± 2.1 for males and 5.4 ± 2.0 for females.

In conclusion, 3×3 basketball games require high-speed inertial movements within a limited distance, resulting in a relatively high physiological response. Practitioners working with 3×3 players should focus on improving these player characteristics for greater success.