{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,27]],"date-time":"2026-07-27T22:10:47Z","timestamp":1785190247380,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]],"date-time":"2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736208000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: There is a lack of studies that investigate the relationship between anthropometric profiles, biological maturity, and specific physical performances in young male basketball players. This study aimed to evaluate the development of anthropometric characteristics and physical performance across different age and maturity groups among male basketball players in Palestine, as well as to identify the anthropometric factors influencing physical performance within this population. Methods: A total of one-hundred-fifty male basketball players, aged 12 to 16, participated in this study. The players were categorized by age groups (U-12 to U-16) and divided into five maturational groups based on their maturity offset, ranging from \u22121.5 to 2.5 years relative to peak height velocity (PHV). The measurements included anthropometric variables and physical performance, such as sprinting performances, jumping ability, agility tests, and maximal aerobic capacity. Statistical analyses, including a full model and multiple regression analysis, were conducted to identify the anthropometric parameters that significantly influenced the performance variables. Results: Anthropometric development, particularly lower-limb length, significantly influenced vertical jump performance, while increases in body composition and fat mass negatively impacted sprinting and strength test outcomes. Our study confirms that maturity status plays a crucial role in determining physical performance among young Palestinian basketball players. Early-maturing players generally demonstrated greater strength and endurance, whereas late-maturing players excelled in agility and speed. The full model and the multiple equations were used to determine the determinants of physical performances according to anthropometric variables. Conclusions: The findings show that performance benchmarks based on age and maturational groups may contribute to a better understanding of training protocols and talent identification for young male basketball players in Palestine, as well as support the development of strategies for physical activity practice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children12010064","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]],"date-time":"2025-01-07T05:06:34Z","timestamp":1736226394000},"page":"64","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Specific Physical Performances of Young Male Basketball Players in Palestine: An Assessment by Maturity Status"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Layla","family":"Jawabreh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Laboratory, Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular \u201cBiology, Medicine and Health\u201d (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7404-1310","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohamed","family":"Tounsi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Laboratory, Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular \u201cBiology, Medicine and Health\u201d (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ghazi","family":"Racil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Unit (LR23JS01) \u201cSport Performance, Health & Society\u201d, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Sa\u00eed, University of Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4254-3105","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johnny","family":"Padulo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7144-7403","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gian Mario","family":"Migliaccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Rome Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy"},{"name":"Research Unit Maxima Performa, Athlete Physiology, Psychology and Nutrition, 20126 Milano, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1902-4830","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luca","family":"Russo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yassine","family":"Trabelsi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Laboratory, Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular \u201cBiology, Medicine and Health\u201d (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Er\u010dulj, F., and \u0160trumbelj, E. (2015). Basketball shot types and shot success in different levels of competitive basketball. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0128885"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1681","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2019.1585410","article-title":"Differences in maturity, morphological and physical attributes between players selected to the primary and secondary teams of a Portuguese Basketball elite academy","volume":"37","author":"Ramos","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1454","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000000391","article-title":"Chronological age vs. biological maturation: Implications for exercise programming in youth","volume":"28","author":"Lloyd","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Malina, R. (2004). Growth, Maturation, and Physical Activity, Human Kinetics.","DOI":"10.5040\/9781492596837"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.2478\/hukin-2014-0062","article-title":"Biomechanical analysis of the jump shot in basketball","volume":"42","author":"Struzik","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Hum. Kinet."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gryko, K., Adamczyk, J.G., Kopiczko, A., Calvo, J.L., Calvo, A.L., and Miko\u0142ajec, K. (2022). Does predicted age at peak height velocity explain physical performance in U13-15 basketball female players?. BMC Sports Sci. Med. Rehabil., 14.","DOI":"10.1186\/s13102-022-00414-4"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1177\/1742715016674864","article-title":"The invisible norm: An exploration of the intersections of sport, gender and leadership","volume":"14","author":"Ryan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Leadership"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.2019-0624","article-title":"Monitoring practices of training load and biological maturity in UK soccer academies","volume":"16","author":"Salter","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"779","DOI":"10.1177\/1747954118757437","article-title":"Influence of age on the anthropometric and performance characteristics of high-level youth female soccer players","volume":"13","author":"Emmonds","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"1339","article-title":"Specific physical performances among male elite youth soccer players: Effect of maturity status","volume":"61","author":"Tounsi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Sports Med. Phys. Fit."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"730","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000000672","article-title":"Monitoring anthropometry and fitness using maturity groups within youth rugby league","volume":"29","author":"Till","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.3390\/clinpract14010024","article-title":"Reference Values of Physical Performance in Handball Players Aged 13\u201319 Years: Taking into Account Their Biological Maturity","volume":"14","author":"Aouichaoui","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin. Pract."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Picabea, J.M., C\u00e1mara, J., and Yanci, J. (2021). Physical fitness profiling of national category table tennis players: Implication for health and performance. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18179362"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tounsi, M., Wiewlhove, T., Racil, G., Gervasi, M., Frizziero, A., Migliaccio, G.M., Padulo, J., and Trabelsi, Y. (2024). Reference Values of Specific Physical Performances of Elite Youth Male Soccer Players: Taking into Consideration the Maturity Status. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. (MLTJ), 14.","DOI":"10.32098\/mltj.03.2024.05"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aouichaoui, C., Tounsi, M., Racil, G., Tabka, O., Zaouali, M., Bragazzi, N.L., and Trabelsi, Y. (2024). Age-and Gender-Specific Reference Values for Physical Performance in Tunisian Youth Basketball Players. Children, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/children11111346"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3278","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001425","article-title":"Sequencing effects of balance and plyometric training on physical performance in youth soccer athletes","volume":"30","author":"Hammami","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2018.1488454","article-title":"Age and maturity related differences in motor coordination among male elite youth soccer players","volume":"37","author":"Rommers","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"390","DOI":"10.1139\/apnm-2012-0178","article-title":"Allometric scaling of peak oxygen uptake in male roller hockey players under 17 years old","volume":"38","author":"Sherar","year":"2013","journal-title":"Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"883","DOI":"10.1080\/02640410902946469","article-title":"Characteristics of youth soccer players who drop out, persist or move up","volume":"27","author":"Figueiredo","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"290","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2006.031294","article-title":"Characteristics of youth soccer players aged 13\u201315 years classified by skill level","volume":"41","author":"Malina","year":"2007","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1260\/1747-9541.5.4.571","article-title":"Talent identification in soccer: The role of maturity status on physical, physiological and technical characteristics","volume":"5","author":"Meylan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gryko, K. (2021). Effect of maturity timing on the physical performance of male Polish basketball players aged 13 to 15 years. Sci. Rep., 11.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-01401-4"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"67","article-title":"Relationship between athletic performance tests and playing time in elite college basketball players","volume":"10","author":"Hoffman","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guimar\u00e3es, E., Ramos, A., Janeira, M.A., Baxter-Jones, A.D., and Maia, J. (2019). How does biological maturation and training experience impact the physical and technical performance of 11\u201314-year-old male basketball players?. Sports, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/sports7120243"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhou, J.-Y., Wang, X., Hao, L., Ran, X.-W., and Wei, W. (2024). Meta-analysis of the effect of plyometric training on the athletic performance of youth basketball players. Front. Physiol., 15.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2024.1427291"},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"689","article-title":"An assessment of maturity from anthropometric measurements","volume":"34","author":"Mirwald","year":"2002","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1123\/pes.2012-0185","article-title":"Acute effects of sled towing on sprint time in male youth of different maturity status","volume":"26","author":"Rumpf","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pediatr. Exerc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1123\/pes.2013-0096","article-title":"Maximal sprint speed in boys of increasing maturity","volume":"27","author":"Meyers","year":"2015","journal-title":"Pediatr. Exerc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hammami, R., Ben Ayed, K., Abidi, M., Werfelli, H., Ajailia, A., Selmi, W., Negra, Y., Duncan, M., Rebai, H., and Granacher, U. (2022). Acute effects of maximal versus submaximal hurdle jump exercises on measures of balance, reactive strength, vertical jump performance and leg stiffness in youth volleyball players. Front. Physiol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2022.984947"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Bilali, A., and Dasheva, D. (2022, January 1\u20132). A Study Comparison for Motor Abilities for Boys\u2019basketball Players U14 & U16 in Tirana. Proceedings of the International Scientific Congress \u201cApplied Sports Sciences\u201d, Sofia, Bulgaria."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Raya, M.A., Gailey, R.S., Gaunaurd, I.A., Jayne, D.M., Campbell, S.M., Gagne, E., Manrique, P.G., Muller, D.G., and Tucker, C. (2013). Comparison of three agility tests with male servicemembers: Edgren Side Step Test, T-Test, and Illinois Agility Test. J. Rehabil. Res. Dev., 50.","DOI":"10.1682\/JRRD.2012.05.0096"},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"638","article-title":"Impact of plyometric training on agility, sprint and vertical jump functional performance in junior level basketball players","volume":"24","author":"Anversha","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Phys. Educ. Sport"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1557988320977686","DOI":"10.1177\/1557988320977686","article-title":"Relationships of the 5-jump test (5JT) performance of youth players with volleyball specific\u2019laboratory tests for explosive power","volume":"14","author":"Latiri","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am. J. Men\u2019s Health"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"31","article-title":"Influence of anthropometric characteristics on jumping performance in young basketball players in the British Basketball League","volume":"10","author":"Petrovic","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sport Sci. Pract. Asp."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brennan, A., Murray, A., Coughlan, D., Wells, J., Xu, J., Turner, A., Brearley, S., and Bishop, C. (2024). Associations and within-group differences in physical characteristics and golf performance data in high-level amateur players. Appl. Sci., 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/app14051854"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"697","DOI":"10.1249\/01.MSS.0000058441.94520.32","article-title":"The yo-yo intermittent recovery test: Physiological response, reliability, and validity","volume":"35","author":"Krustrup","year":"2003","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cohen, J. (2013). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203771587"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0b013e31818cb278","article-title":"Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science","volume":"41","author":"Hopkins","year":"2009","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Walker, W.H., and Cooke, P.S. (2023). Functions of steroid hormones in the male reproductive tract as revealed by mouse models. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 24.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms24032748"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1097\/00006565-200304000-00018","article-title":"Adolescent health care: A practical guide","volume":"19","author":"Hannaman","year":"2003","journal-title":"Pediatr. Emerg. Care"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3342","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0b013e318236d0c2","article-title":"Changes in body composition, hormonal status, and physical fitness in 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Finnish regional youth soccer players during a two-year follow-up","volume":"25","author":"Blomqvist","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E523","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.1997.272.4.E523","article-title":"Glucose-fatty acid interactions in prepubertal and pubertal children: Effects of lipid infusion","volume":"272","author":"Arslanian","year":"1997","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol.-Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1080\/02640410500189371","article-title":"The relationship between peak height velocity and physical performance in youth soccer players","volume":"24","author":"Philippaerts","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.34256\/ijk2317","article-title":"Effect of Maturity Status and Relative Age Effect on Anthropometrics and Physical Performance of Soccer Players Aged 12 to 15 Years","volume":"3","author":"Shahidi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Kinanthropometry"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ramos, S.A., Massu\u00e7a, L.M., Volossovitch, A., Ferreira, A.P., and Fragoso, I. (2021). Morphological and fitness attributes of young male Portuguese basketball players: Normative values according to chronological age and years from peak height velocity. Front. Sports Act. Living, 3.","DOI":"10.3389\/fspor.2021.629453"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scispo.2017.05.002","article-title":"Effect of socioeconomic status on leg muscle power in tunisian adolescent athletes","volume":"32","author":"Tounsi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1325","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001224","article-title":"Basketball performance is related to maturity and relative age in elite adolescent players","volume":"30","author":"Zarrazquin","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kasovi\u0107, M., \u0160tefan, L., and \u0160tefan, A. (2021). Normative data for gait speed and height norm speed in \u226560-year-old men and women. Clin. Interv. Aging, 225\u2013230.","DOI":"10.2147\/CIA.S290071"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1946","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13198","article-title":"When does the influence of maturation on anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics increase and subside?","volume":"28","author":"Towlson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"Armstrong, R. (2018). Building Knowledge in Performance Measurement and Management: A Critical Realist Approach, Universitat de Barcelona."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1901","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-020-01327-3","article-title":"Effects of resistance training on physical fitness in healthy children and adolescents: An umbrella review","volume":"50","author":"Lesinski","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lovell, R., Towlson, C., Parkin, G., Portas, M., Vaeyens, R., and Cobley, S. (2015). Soccer player characteristics in English lower-league development programmes: The relationships between relative age, maturation, anthropometry and physical fitness. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0137238"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Parpa, K., and Michaelides, M. (2022). Age-related differences in the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of young soccer players: A cross-sectional study. Children, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/children9050650"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"647","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1520-6300(1998)10:5<647::AID-AJHB11>3.0.CO;2-8","article-title":"Changes in height and motor performance relative to peak height velocity: A mixed-longitudinal study of Spanish boys and girls","volume":"10","year":"1998","journal-title":"Am. J. Hum. Biol. Off. J. Hum. Biol. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rowland, T.W. (2011). The Athlete\u2019s Clock: How Biology and Time Affect Sport Performance, Human Kinetics.","DOI":"10.5040\/9781492595977"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1519\/SSC.0000000000000281","article-title":"Bio-banding in sport: Applications to competition, talent identification, and strength and conditioning of youth athletes","volume":"39","author":"Cumming","year":"2017","journal-title":"Strength Cond. J."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tossici, G., Zurloni, V., and Nitri, A. (2024). Stress and sport performance: A PNEI multidisciplinary approach. Front. Psychol., 15.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1358771"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zeiger, J.S., and Zeiger, R.S. (2018). Mental toughness latent profiles in endurance athletes. PLoS ONE, 13.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0193071"}],"container-title":["Children"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/12\/1\/64\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T10:24:11Z","timestamp":1759919051000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9067\/12\/1\/64"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]]},"references-count":58,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1]]}},"alternative-id":["children12010064"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/children12010064","relation":{},"ISSN":["2227-9067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2227-9067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,7]]}}}