The effect of educational game trainings on basic basketball skills and body coordination in 10-12 year old basketball players

This study aimed to examine the effect of educational games on basic basketball skills and body coordination in basketball players. The research was conducted in Çorum province with the voluntary participation of 32 licensed basketball players aged 10-12 from the Gelişim Basketball Sports Club. A semi-experimental model was used in the research. The basketball players played educational games designed to develop basic basketball and body motor coordination skills for 8 weeks. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Johnson Basketball Test, and the KTK: Children's Body Coordination Test before and after the intervention. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0 software package. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequency, percentage (%), and mean, standard deviation (min-max). Normality distribution was analyzed using the Kolmogorov Smirnov and Shapiro Wilks tests. Repeated measurements of dependent variables were analyzed using the parametric Paired T Test (Dependent Groups T-Test). The statistical significance level was set at p< 0.05. According to the research findings, there were significant differences in the total Johnson Basketball Test scores of female and male basketball players and in the dribbling skills of female basketball players (p<0.05). According to the KTK Test results, there were significant differences in backward balance and total scores in female basketball players and in sideways jumping tests in male basketball players (p<0.05). In conclusion, educational games were found to have a positive effect on developing basketball-specific skills and body coordination in both female and male basketball players.