Jeličić, M. et al.: Latent structure of situational efficiency of elite junior basketball players Sport Science 3 (2010) 1: 65‐70 LATENT STRUCTURE OF SITUATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF ELITE JUNIOR BASKETBALL PLAYERS Mario Jeličić1, Marko Trninić1 and Igor Jelaska2 1 Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Croatia 2 Faculty of Electric Eng., Mechanical Eng. and Naval Architecture, University of Split, Croatia Original scientific paper Abstract The main goal of this research is to establish the latent structure of situational efficiency of elite junior basketball players. For this purpose, an exploratory factor analysis strategy by use of principal components method was implemented in 13 standard situation efficacy indicators on the sample of 108 elite junior basketball players who participated in the 19th Junior European Basketball Championship in Zadar, 2000. The sample of respondents consisted of competitors who averagely played 8 minutes per a game for more than 3 games, and they were chosen from 11 teams that played 46 games in the championship. Two relatively independent latent dimensions have been isolated and named as: situational technical and tactical activity factors of inside and outside players. It has been concluded that neither the standard use of the variable of the situational efficiency, nor the use of the latent dimensions that have been derived from them suffice to fully explain the structure of basketball game. Key words: basketball game, situational efficiency, elite juniors, latent structure Introduction From the point of view of movement structure and It can be done based on game assignments on the the structure of game situations, basketball is one level of structural and functional approach, because of the most complex and variable team games, game assignments that a particular player performs dominated by fast transformations from action to within the game tactics model directly reflect on the action (Trninić, 1995). Furthermore, Javier (1992) situational efficiency of players on all positions in states that basketball is a dominantly strategic the game. In the analysis of game tasks through sport or strategic team game in which every player the stages of the course of the game, one can synchronizes his individual technique and tactics distinguish between tasks and individual situational with his co-players, through the collective tactics of efficiency for every position in set defense, offense the team. He also points out that in the game of transition, set offense and defense transition, basketball, strategic behavior comprises all according to the analysis of the video recording. parameters that determine the development of The functional structure of basketball can also be actions in the game: game rules, technique, tactics, viewed through technique/tactics and space, time and communication. Consequently, that cooperation/opposition categories. Task means that basketball is a contradicting sport with performance in the game includes specific demands a game tactics model and an infinite number of that refer to encumberment (energetic, possibilities to resolve game situations, while on informational and emotional component), resolving the team level there is a cooperation – opposition and realizing particular situations in the game, the model (Hernandez, 1987, 1988; Gréhaigne and course of actions within the stages and the game Godbout, 1995), so harmonizing individual and tactics model, the specific anthropological team goals, i.e., individual and team resolution of characteristics and states responsible for the game situations is an important ability (Trninić, successful completion of tasks that a particular Perica and Dizdar, 1999; Trninić and Dizdar, 2000; player has during a basketball match (Trninić, Gréhaigne, Bouthier and Godbout, 1997). 1995). Presumably, situational efficiency indicators in the game of basketball are determined by the However, a basketball match can be interpreted as level of successful completion of individual and a defined sequence of jobs or tasks in the game collective tasks that each player needs to perform that each player has to perform with regard to his with regard to his position (place) and functional place and role in the team, within a specific game role in the team. It refers to the various modes of tactics model. Game tasks differ not only according task performance in the game that demand specific to the position of a player in a team, but also technical-tactical knowledge about how to do according to the structure of the required something, which enables the execution of actions. anthropological characteristics. Therefore, game Accordingly, the basic rule that enables an tasks can be seen from the viewpoint of sports organized game to function successfully is that activity analysis and the analysis of dimensions each player keeps to his own responsibilities and responsible for their successful completion. Trninić, authority (rights in the game), i.e. that each player (1995) states that it is possible to explain knows exactly what his task is, and what is situational efficiency of particular types of players. expected of him with regard to his position. 65 Jeličić, M. et al.: Latent structure of situational efficiency of elite junior basketball players Sport Science 3 (2010) 1: 65‐70 Pavlović (1977) divides all playing situations into Those were norms for the assessment of the typical (standard) and untypical (nonstandard). He situational efficiency of basketball players according also states that typical playing situations are the to the positions they played and their playing time. ones that are in a certain way more often found in He designed an efficiency-related computer the same form in the game course stages, which is program for the assessment of basketball players why they shape the characteristic situations that whereby positive and inadequate dimensions of occur several times during a match in the same each player could be assessesed with regard to his way. Furthermore, he says that untypical playing position in the game. Looking at works concerned situations are the ones that rarely occur during a with other sports games, only Janković (1988) match, are hard to read, and are “played” by researched and defined the latent structure of players with special abilities who have an untypical technical-tactical elements in the game of way of resolving problems and make the game volleyball. The author took a sample of the best completely nonstandard. The problem with four volleyball teams that participated in the final constructing a valid measuring instrument that can tournament of the former Yugoslavia Cup (1981) successfully interpret inadequate and positive and registered 20 basic data of a closed system of dimensions of each player in situational and volleyball matches with the purpose to check the competitive environment is resolved with a dimensionality and structure of volleyball game sequence of statistical techniques. Therefore, it is elements. The author used componential analysis very important to encompass a wide structure of to extract four main components significant under relevant situational efficiency indicators that can be the Guttman-Kaiser criterion that coherently successfully registered at a basketball match. With describe the structure of the game of volleyball, this purpose in mind FIBA standardized 13 and named them as: overall game efficiency, lift situational efficiency indicators that have been efficiency, implementing backcourt elements officially monitored at each match of the World efficiency and the game course during fast breaks. Championship in Hamilton and Toronto, 4 to 14 A smaller number of experts were researching the August 1994. The suggested situational efficiency latent structure of situational space of sports indicators are: the number of two-point field goals, games. For example, Trninić (1995) carried out a the number of two-point field goal attempts, the quantity analysis of the game of basketball with number of three-point field goals, the number of mathematical-statistically multivariate procedures. three-point field goal attempts, the number of free The analysis was made by using basic and specific throws (1, 2 and 3), the number of free throws (1, game attributes and entities (game tasks), based 2 and 3) attempts, defensive rebound, offensive on top-level and selected basketball experts – rebound, assists, personal fouls, turnovers, steals players and coaches and scientist-practitioners and and blockshots. The statistical overview of the their knowledge of the game. A correlation matrix above-mentioned matches of the World was factored in the frame of explorative strategy Championship showed that the number of two-point with a factor analysis of attributes or variables field goals was the primary situational parameter under a component model. for the overall successfulness in the game, whose efficiency was averaging between 50 and 60 %, Three factors were extracted after applying the and comprised 55 to 60 % of the total number of Gutman-Kaiser criterion and they exhaust 76,9% of points at a basketball match. Therefore, for a the total variance of the manifest area. The first successful realization in the transition or position factor (inside players) exhausts 32,4%, the second offense, it was necessary to set a structure of (course of the game) 23,7%, and the third (outside movement lines, which enabled a large number of players) 20,8% of the total variance. The factor running in and blockshots between