Does the Weekly Distribution of Games and Competition Density Affect Training Load in Elite Male Basketball Players Based on their Playing Role?

Authors

  • Hugo Salazar Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
  • Luka Svilar Department of Physical Activity and Sports Science, University Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, Community of Madrid, Spain
  • Julen Castellano Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain & Faculty of Sports Science, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
  • Jairo Vázquez-Guerrero Research Group of Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health (GRAFAiS), Barcelona, Spain
  • Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v5i1.371

Keywords:

basketball, accelerometry, team sport, workload, week, player role

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the external workload encountered by Euroleague basketball players based on the weekly game density (ranging from 0 to 3-games per week) and player roles (bench, rotation, and starter). Method: A longitudinal observational study was conducted across two full seasons. The weekly workload was determined by recording PlayerLoad™ using microsensors during basketball practices and estimations for games. A linear mixed model with Bonferroni post-hoc tests was used to compare the workload among weeks and player roles. Additionally, Cohen’s d effect sizes were applied to determine the magnitude of the differences. Results: Starting players consistently experienced higher external workload compared to rotation players and bench players across all weekly configurations. In weeks with more games, especially from Friday to Sunday, starters faced the highest workload, followed by rotation players. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed both in the total number of games per week and in the specific distribution of games within the week. Conclusion: These findings highlight the substantial impact of game density and player roles on the workload experienced throughout a professional men’s basketball season. Therefore, coaches should take this into account when planning appropriate weekly workloads based on players’ roles within the team roster. 

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Published

2025-03-14

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): International Journal of Strength and Conditioning

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Hugo Salazar, Luka Svilar, Julen Castellano, Jairo Vázquez-Guerrero, Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright of their work, granting IJSC a license to publish and distribute. All articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. We clearly state any fees associated with submissions or access for readers. For copyright or licensing queries, stakeholders can reach out to journal@iusca.org.

How to Cite

Salazar, Hugo, Luka Svilar, Julen Castellano, Jairo Vázquez-Guerrero, and Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao. 2025. “Does the Weekly Distribution of Games and Competition Density Affect Training Load in Elite Male Basketball Players Based on Their Playing Role?”. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning 5 (1). https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v5i1.371.