The effect of match periods on the level of the hormone cortisol in the blood of advanced basketball players

Abstract

Basketball is considered one of the sports that differs in its nature as a team game from many team games in terms of the speed of its rhythms and the succession of rhythms and the reciprocal motor performances between the continuous offensive and defensive operations. It is characterized by speed, strength and endurance of performance. The player moves from the attack to the defense quickly and continuously. This requires the continuous consumption of energy during the two halves of the match, as well as compensating for that energy in order to continue performing physical efforts throughout the periods of the match. Here, it is necessary to identify the biochemical indicators of the body in a state of rest and when making physical efforts during the two halves of the match. The study aimed to identify the effect of the match halves on the level of the hormone cortisol among basketball players. The researcher assumed that... There are statistically significant differences between the match halves in the level of cortisol concentration in the blood of basketball players. The researcher used the descriptive approach because it is suitable for the nature of the problem. The researcher identified the research sample from the players of the Popular Mobilization Club in basketball. To deal with the raw scores in a simple way in order to interpret them, the researcher used several statistical methods. In light of the above, the researcher reached several conclusions, including that the response of the cortisol hormone to the effort of the match was very rapid. The researcher recommended that the results be adopted by coaches and workers in the field of basketball because they are important in developing physical performance and also because they are real indicators of the effect of the effort of competition on physiological variables.