Arslan, ErşanKilit, BülentClemente, Filipe ManuelMurawska-Cia?owicz, E.Soylu, YusufSöğüt, Mehtap ÜnlüSilva, A.F.2022-05-112022-05-1120221661-7827https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052931https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11776/4823This study aimed to investigate the effects of the 6-week small-sided games training (SSGs) vs. high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the psychophysiological and performance responses, and technical skills of young basketball players. Thirty-two male players (age: 14.5 ± 0.5 years of age) were randomly divided into SSGs group (n = 16) and HIIT group (n = 16) training methods thrice per week for 6 weeks. The players in the SSGs group performed two 5–8 min of 2 vs. 2 with 2 min rest periods, while the players in HIIT performed 12–18 min of runs at intensities (90 to 95%) related to the velocity obtained in the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT). Pre-testing and post-testing sessions involved assessments of Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1, 30-15 intermittent fitness test, 5 and 30 m sprint times, vertical jump height, repeated sprint ability, defensive and offensive agility, and technical skills. The SSGs group demonstrated significantly higher agility-based technical responses in terms of the control dribbling and shooting skills (d = 1.71 vs. 0.20, d = 1.41 vs. 0.35, respectively) compared with the HIIT group. Conversely, the HIIT induced greater improvements in 30 m sprint times (d = 3.15 vs. 0.68). These findings provided that SSGs in youth basketball players may allow similar positive physical adaptations to HIIT, with an extra advantage of improving technical skills while improving enjoyability. © 2022, MDPI. All rights reserved.en10.3390/ijerph19052931info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessAgilityInterval trainingPerceived exertionPhysical enjoymentPsychophysiological responsesadolescentagilityarticlebasketball playerchildclinical articlecontrolled studyexercisehigh intensity interval traininghumanjuvenilepreschool childpretest posttest designrandomized controlled trialskillArticle195N/AWOS:0007677885000012-s2.0-85125403476Q2