Influence of anthropometric characteristics on speed abilities of 14 years old elite male basketball players

The aims of this study were: a) to identify anthropometric characteristics and speed abilities of 14 year old elitemale basketball players b) to investigate relations between these two qualities.At the sample of total of 50 young basketball players, 14 years old, 11 anthropometric (predictors) variableswere measured: four longitudinal measures, two transversal measures, body mass, four circumferences, sixskinfolds and 2 derived variables: body mass index (BMI), and sum of skinfolds (SUM SKF). Also, they didthree speed tests (dependent variables): run 20m, run 30m, and run 50m. For the assessment of influence ofpredictor variables on dependent variables regressive analysis, Stepwise method, was applied. Results of threeregression analysis talk about a moderate, but significant influence of anthropometric variables on results of 20m(first step - variable lower limb length), 30m (first step - variable sitting height and second step – variable sum ofskinfolds) and 50m (first step - variable sum of skinfolds) sprint tests of 14 years old basketball players