Biology of Sport

Effectiveness of match-day priming strategies on physical and technical performance in female basketball players

  1. Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, León, Spain

  2. Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Elite Re-search Community, Vila Real, Portugal

  3. Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, School of Life Sciences and Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

  4. School of Sport & Exercise Science, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom

  5. FPF Academy, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, Portugal

Biol Sport. 2026;43:1569–1577

Online publish date: 2026/07/06
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Priming refers to pre-competition training interventions designed to acutely enhance subsequent performance by optimizing neuromuscular, metabolic, and psychological readiness. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three match-day priming strategies on physical and technical performance in female basketball players. Eighteen professional players (19.7±2.1 years) from the Spanish third division completed a randomised crossover-controlled study involving four conditions: control (CON), high-load strength (STR; 80% 1RM), low-load power (POW; 40% 1RM), and plyometric with change-of-direction (PLY+COD). Performance was assessed in the morning (pre-test, 10:00 a.m.) and afternoon (post-test, 4:00 p.m.) using the countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), 5-0-5 change-of-direction speed (CODS) test, and a modified shooting-accuracy test. The POW condition resulted in significant improvements in CMJ, CODS, and shooting accuracy. In contrast, STR impaired CMJ, DJ height, CODS, and technical performance, while PLY+COD reduced jump performance and reactive strength. No meaningful changes occurred in CON. Complementary ANCOVA confirmed significant between-condition effects for CMJ, CODS, and shooting accuracy. These findings suggest that low-load, highvelocity resistance priming performed approximately 5 hours before competition can enhance neuromuscular readiness and shooting-accuracy in female basketball. Coaches should prioritise individualised, power-oriented priming routines aligned with players’ training backgrounds to optimise match-day performance.

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