THE ZEFECT OF MUSCULAR STEADINESS
UPON JHE SHOOTING ACCURACY OF
VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

Everett S, Dean, Basketball Coach
University of Indiana

- Anything that exists, exists in a same amount,
therefore it can be measured, Basket shooting ability undoubtedly exists,
and existing can be measured. The problem, however, is more difficult
than the bare statement of facts would indicate because we must first dis-
cover those characteristics which operate either independently, or as a
pattern to produce accuracy in basketball shooting; and second, these
characteristics must be carefully measured. The keen observer of basket-
ball notices certain characteristics which all good basketball shots seem
to possess: eg: among the more predominate are: -- Coolness during the
game (muscular steadiness); Speed (reaction time); Vision (to see the
field ahead and to the side); Intuition (perceptional ability), etc. The
writer, taking his cue from the opening statement of this paragraph had set
himself the task of measuring each of these characteristics listed above
and connecting the results with the actual scoring record of each individual
member of his squad.

THE PROBLEM - Scientifically conducted experiments in basketball
have been few and far between, and those that have been made, have been
largely of the laboratory type and not in the natural, normal basketball
environment. Kellogg, measuring muscular stability, found that exercise
produced an increased instability. His study was conducted in the psych-
ological laboratory in an environment far removed from a basketball court.
Eaton, (1) measuring the stability of freshmen basketball players in the
normal playing environment, found that their stability varied greatly as
a result of competition. These two studies mentioned above are typical of
the investigations in this field. But they failed to determine the relation-
ship, if any, which existed between muscular stability and changes in
muscular stability and other performances. In light of these investigations
concerning muscular stability, the chief aim of this study is to determine
the relationship of muscular steadiness and changes of muscular steadiness
to shooting accuracy.

EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS =- The apparatus selected to measure
steadiness was a modified plate and stylus tester of the Whipple type.

SUBJECTS - The subjects were twenty members of the Indiana
University Basketball squad during the season of 1933 - 34.

There were three testing situations:

Sl. Just before starting practice.

S2. After one hour of practice.

S3. At the close of practice one hour later.

The apparatus was located in front of the playing floor and the
Sl was tested standing with right arm fully extended and straight from the
shoulder. The testing period was of 10 seconds duration. The tests were
taken each practice period during the entire basketball season.