The adaptation features of the organism of the basketball players aged 13-14 years during the transitional period

Scientific problem. The vacation period of the pupils matches the transitional period of the basketball players aged 13-14 years. The transitional period usually is not being used very efficiently: pupils are resting passively, no handball games are taking place (Raslanas, Skarbalius, 1998) – the detraining processes of the handball players are getting more intensive (Skarbalius, Astrauskas, 2001). Accordingly, the same problems are faced in the development of young basketball players. The question arises, how should the change of fitness of the young basketball players should be measured during the transitional period? What proportions of passive and active rest enables to minimize de-adaptational changes? The object of the research was the adaptational processes taking place in the organisms of young basketball players aged 13-14 years during the transitional period as well as the physical activity influencing it. The hypothesis of the research – the fitness of young basketball players aged 13-14 years is diminishing significantly during the transitional period. The objective of the research – to determine the influence the transitional period has to athletic and technical fitness of young basketball players aged 13-14 years. In order to reach the objective the following tasks have been raised: Assessment of body composition indicators of young basketball players aged 13-14 years during the transitional period. Assessment of athletic and technical fitness of young basketball players aged 13-14 years during the transitional period. Assessment of the influence different levels of physical activity has to the fitness of basketball players. Conclusions. The difference between physical development indicators at the beginning and the end of transitional period is statistically significant (p0.05). Heart rate recovery dinamics shows shat physical activity stimulates the functional strength of a heart, hence, the heart works more economically in a rest state, whereas the recovery is faster. Meanwhile, the indicators of the researched players, which has been engaged in autonomous physical activity of 16 to 25 hours per week during the transitional period (group I) was not only sustained but also increased compared to the results received in the beginning of the transitional period. Statistical difference was insignificant in comparison of the test results of the beginning and end of the transitional period. The statistical difference of the other group (group II), who have been engaged in physical activity for 7 to 15 hours per week during the transitional period was more significant than the one of group I. Meanwhile, the statistical difference of the group III, who have been engaged in physical activity for 1 to 6 hours per week during the transitional period was even more significant than the one of group II. Recommendations, suggestions. Transitional period only remains important as the tool for active rest of the young basketball players. The summer vacation enables pupils to recover psychically, however, their organisms should not suffer functional and physical de-adaptational changes related to passive physical activity. Thus, it is recommended that the coaches provide the recommendations in relation to the transitional period of young basketball players. These recommendations should benefit the players in not only maintaining their athletic features but also developing them even further