Abstract

The aim of the research was to determine and evaluate the change of special physical skills of Lithuanian wheelchair basketball national team players in aspects of disability type, playing experience and age. By the method of testing the correlation between wheelchair basketball skills, special physical features and disability type, age and playing experience was determined. The tests of speed, agility, anaerobic endurance, passing accuracy, dribbling and shooting were applied (Valandewijck Daly, Theisen, 1999; Skučas, Stonkus, 2001). 12 Lithuanian wheelchair basketball team players were divided into three groups according to the disability type, age and playing experience. The results showed that special physical abilities of Lithuanian national team wheelchair basketball players were different depending on the disability. Agility and speed results of players with a more severe disability (1– 2.5 points) were higher in comparison to those of a less severe disability. Players with a less severe disability (3–4.5 points) had higher results in middle and long distance shooting. Longer playing experience (from 6 to 10 years and more) resulted in better special skills of anaerobic endurance, speed, agility, ball and wheelchair control, shooting in comparison with the results of players with 3 to 5 years of playing experience. Age had a different influence on the results of special physical wheelchair skills. Better wheelchair and ball control, shooting and passing accuracy results were observed in players of 31 to 35 years of age and older. Verf.-Referat