An assessment of anthropometric and physical profiles of highly trained youth male and female basketball athletes: Implications for talent selection and development

The study assessed the physical and anthropometric profiles of highly trained male and female youth basketball athletes from around the world to inform talent selection and development processes. 727 under-18 athletes (Male: N = 424; Female: N = 304) from Africa, Asia, Americas, and Europe were tested for height, mass, wingspan, hand length and hand width, standing reach, speed, agility, standing vertical jump and maximal vertical jump. One-way ANOVAs determined regional differences in all anthropometric and physical assessments and an independent t-test was conducted between positions. Results present a global normative view of highly trained male and female youth basketball anthropometric and physical attributes. Specifically, gender specific differences were apparent for all anthropometric and physical assessments, population specific differences existed in both the male and female cohorts, and there were clear positional differences showing frontcourt players to be bigger, slower, less agile, and less powerful (e.g., lower jump performance). Collectively, these data provide useful profiling and benchmark information that can be utilized for talent selection and development decision making processes.