Baskin

Baskin is a new sport, inspired by basketball, but with modified rules that allow anyone, people with and without disabilities, male and female, to take part in the game in a meaningful way. The functional model of basketball has been particularly studied; on the contrary physiological qualities of baskin players is currently unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to verify the actual energy expenditure of baskin players (role 5). Five male subjects (age 16.8±2.7 y, BMI 22.6±2.4 kg/m2; VO2max 65.5±6.8 mLO2/kg/min; HRmax 196±1.9 bpm), participating to both basketball and baskin championships, volunteered to participate in the study. Each subject was monitored during the championship games for 30’ with the Actiheart (CamNtech, Papworth Everard, UK) from which mean and peak heart rate (HR) were measured allowing the extrapolation of mean and peak oxygen consumption (VO2). Subjects were also monitored with indirect calorimetry (K4b2, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) during 30’ of both baskin and basketball training sessions, to derive the individual relationship HR/VO2 under real game conditions. This relationship was used to extrapolate the VO2 from HR values during the championship matches. Moreover, 2 players were analyzed during a simulated baskin match during which the physical demands have been evaluated using a Global Positioning System (GPS, MinimaxX Catapult Innovations, Melbourne, Australia). The mean and peak VO2 and HR during the championship matches of baskin and basketball were comparable. The peak and mean HR achieved during the baskin game were 190±8.1 bpm (97±4.8% HRmax) and 139±20.8 bpm (71±10.9% HRmax), respectively. The peak and mean VO2 values were 62.7.±10.5 mLO2/kg/min (95.2±8.5% VO2max) and 29±10 mLO2/kg/min (44±15.6% VO2max), respectively. GPS data confirm the alternating nature of the discipline: performed exercises vary from low-intensity running and walking to all-out sprints. From this study it can be concluded that baskin is, as basketball, an open-skill interval activity, which alternatively needs aerobic and anaerobic energy production. Baskin can be an adequate tool for the physical activity of adolescents meeting the recommended international guidelines for physical activity for this age group.