Physiological demands of competitive basketball

The aim of this study was to assess physiological demands of competitive basketball by measuring oxygen consumption (VO2) and other variables during practice games. Each of 12 players (20.4 1.1 years) was monitored in a 20-min prac-tice game, which was conducted in the same way as actual games with the presence of referees and coaches. VO2 was measured by a portable system during the game and blood lactate concentration (LA) was measured in brief breaks. Subjects were also videotaped for time-motion analysis. Female and male players demonstrated respective VO2 of 33.4 4.0 and 36.9 2.6mL/kg/min and LA of 3.2 0.9 and 4.2 1.3mmol/L in the practice games (P40.05). They spent 34.1 % of play time running and jumping, 56.8 % walking, and 9.0 % standing. Pre-obtained VO2max was correlated to VO2 during play (r5 0.673) and t