Cultura cestistica. Le componenti psico-socio-culturali dei percorsi formativi e agonistici nei settori giovanili italiani d'eccellenza di pallacanestro

The purpose of the present study was to analyze psychological, sociological and cultural variables of basketball performance in elite basketball sport systems, to understand which variables of young athletes’ experiences are trained and developed during youth sector. This research integrated a single-case analysis of Olimpia Milan Basketball sport system with Reyer Venice Basketball and Eagle Trent Basketball sport systems comparative analysis. It was conducted on teams of players between 13 and 19 years old, during basketball season 2014/15 and 2015/16. Qualitative methodologies, participant observation and back-talks analysis, were developed inside these sport systems for a total of more than 450 hours of field research. Results were express at three different levels. First, individual psychological variables of sport performance were analyzed identifying main psychological features, required to play at professional, A League, basketball level: mental toughness, consciousness and learning abilities, personal responsibility, task focus, emotional management, and social support. Second, frequent team interactions modalities were studied throw group dynamics observation: cohesion and social support, engagement behaviours, avoidance embarrassment strategies, roles and status definitions. Third, socio-cultural variables of basketball performance were investigated by: sport systems’ goal-setting, team training management, local basketball culture, italian and international basketball movement comparison. This study highlighted the necessity to invest on psycho-socio-cultural variables of basketball performance to improve youth sector programs.