Using skill tests to identify successful and unsuccessful basketball performers.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of 21 selected basketball skill tests to successful basketball performance. The 21 skill test items were administered to 70 boys ranging in age from 12 to 17 attending the 1977 University of Minnesota-Duluth basketball camp for boys. Based on the ratings of three high school and three college coaches, camp participants were designated as successful (n = 32) and unsuccessful (n = 38) performers. The stepwise discriminant analysis procedure was used. Six skill tests were identified as significantly contributing to discriminating between group membership. These tests, in order of the magnitude of their standardized discriminant function coefficients, were (1) speed pass, (2) zig-zag run, (3) free jump, (4) side step, (5) front shot, and (6) zig-zag dribble. It was concluded that a basketball skill test battery comprised of these six test items would objectively measure basketball playing ability and discriminate between successful and uns...