Author(s): G Pushpa and P Manju Pushpa

Abstract:
This study was designed to examine the effects of CrossFit training on selected physical fitness variables in school basketball players. For this purpose, 30 basketball players were recruited from Chavara Vidhya Bhavan Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Sri Ragavendra Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The subjects were randomly assigned to two equal groups, consisting of 15 players each (n = 15). Group I underwent CrossFit training (CFT), while Group II served as the control group (CG). The experimental group received CrossFit training four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) for a period of twelve weeks. The control group did not participate in any additional training beyond their regular routine activities. The selected physical fitness variables and their criterion measures were as follows: Speed - 50 m Dash Test, Agility - 4 × 10 m Shuttle Run Test, Reaction Time - Groningen Reaction Time Test, Hand-Eye Coordination - Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test, and Cardiovascular Endurance - Cooper 12-Minute Walk/Run Test. The data collected from the subjects were statistically analyzed using the t-test to determine significant differences at the 0.05 level of confidence (p<0.05). The results revealed that speed, agility, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and cardiovascular endurance improved significantly in the experimental group as a result of CrossFit training, despite potential limitations such as variations in diet, climate, lifestyle, and previous training background. Furthermore, the experimental group showed highly significant improvements compared to the control group. These findings are consistent with previous investigations conducted by experts in the field of sports sciences, confirming that CrossFit training can effectively enhance multiple components of physical fitness in basketball players.

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