The aims of this research were to (a) demonstrate how a principled approach using anthropometric measures of the hand can be used to identify the most appropriate basketball size for junior basketball players and (b) examine participants’ preferences in relation to the use of different sized basketballs after gameplay. The hand spans and hand lengths of junior and senior male basketball players were measured and used to create hand size-to-ball-size ratios. Junior male basketball players also competed in 3 vs 3 half-court games using size 3, 4, 5, and 6 basketballs. Using the hand size-to-ball-size ratio as a means of scaling equipment for junior basketball players revealed that the most appropriate ball for 11-year-old boys is size 3 or 4, however, the junior players preferred using the larger basketballs (size 5 and 6) during gameplay. Anthropometric measures of the hand can be used by sports administrators and coaches as a principled means to scale sports equipment for juniors. Given that the preferred ball size appears to be influenced by the prior experiences of each child, it may be important for scaled equipment to be introduced during the initial stages of motor learning.

中文翻译：

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儿童运动器材缩放的原则方法：篮球案例研究

本研究的目的是 (a) 展示如何使用手部人体测量的原则方法来确定最适合初级篮球运动员的篮球尺寸，以及 (b) 检查参与者对使用不同尺寸的偏好。游戏后大小篮球。测量了初级和高级男性篮球运动员的手跨度和手长，并用于创建手尺寸与球尺寸的比率。青少年男篮球运动员也使用 3、4、5 和 6 号篮球参加 3 对 3 半场比赛。使用手的大小与球的大小比作为衡量青少年篮球运动员装备的手段表明，最适合 11 岁男孩的球是 3 或 4 号，但青少年球员更喜欢使用较大的篮球（尺寸 5 和 6）在游戏过程中。体育管理者和教练可以使用手的人体测量学作为衡量青少年运动器材的原则性手段。鉴于首选球的大小似乎受每个孩子先前经验的影响，因此在运动学习的初始阶段引入缩放设备可能很重要。