The physiological characteristics of elite women's basketball

Increasing numbers of Australians are playing the sport of basketball. The game's ability to be played both indoors and outdoors, and the international popularity of the game make it an appealing sport for people of all ages. With an impressive 198 countries affiliated with the International Basketball Federation and an incredible 100,000,000 (one hundred million) women throughout the world playing basketball, the position of women's basketball has never looked stronger. According to Basketball Australia, females constitute 50% of the registered basketball playing population in Australia with approximately 350,000 participants. Participation rates have doubled in the last seven years. One of the factors believed to have contributed to the growth in the number of women playing basketball in Australia, is the increased profile of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). According to Leanne Grantham, Chief Executive of the WNBL, record crowds were recorded throughout the 1995/96 seasons with a subsequent rise in the level of media interest. The WNBL was one of Australia's first full home and away sporting competitions for women and is considered to be one of the three most competitive female basketball competitions in the world. This is reflected in the high number of overseas players (imports) who seek to join the competition each year. Tom Maher, Head Coach of the Australian Senior Women's Basketball Team (Opals), advocates that the standard of the WNBL is in a large way responsible for the success of Australian Junior and Senior Teams at international competitions. The Australian Junior Women's Team (Gems) won a silver medal at the 1997 World Junior Championships and is currently ranked two in the World and the Senior Women's Team, which won its first ever Olympic medal (bronze) at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, is currently ranked three. Given the increase in the profile of women's basketball both in Australia and overseas, it is interesting to note the limited number of studies which have investigated the physiological requirements of the game. A physiological investigation of elite women's basketball may provide answers to questions such as: What is the nature of the physiological strain incurred by elite players during performance? Which system does the majority of energy contribution during performance come from? What type of specific strength and conditioning is required? Do the physiological stresses placed on elite women basketballers vary according to position?