Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the
effectiveness of 12 weeks of balance training to improve
the balance and vertical jump abilities of young basketball
players. Twenty-three players from two teams in the Under
Fifteen Basketball Excellence category participated in the
study. Participants were divided into two training groups:
balance training (BAL, n = 11) and isotonic training (ISO,
n = 12). Both groups were tested for balance and vertical
jumps at the beginning of the competitive season and at the
end of 12 weeks of specific training programme. All of the
tests were performed in sustained bipodalic and monopodalic (both right and left) positions. The results showed
that players who participated in balance training for
12 weeks, compared to players who trained with isotonic
machines, exhibited a significantly increase in balance
(bipodalic 28.3 %; right 41.4 %; left 45.8 %; p 0.01)
and muscular power (bipodalic 8.1 %; right 13.5 %; left
12.5 %; p 0.01) as measured through a vertical jump. In
conclusion, balance training using unstable boards was an
effective training method for improving balance and the
vertical jump, which is a basketball-specific action that
frequently occurs in this sport.