How hormones, vertical jump and perceived exertion change in clutch time. A season case study of an amateur basketball team

Abstract

Basketball clutch time is defined as minutes when the scoring margin is within 5 points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game. Our aims were to explore the relations and to compare testosterone and cortisol behaviours, vertical jump (CMJ) and perceived exertion (RPE) between clutch time games (CT) and non-clutch time games (N-CT); during a season in an amateur male team (24.02 ± 3.36 years). Data was collected at 22 games considering CT (n = 8) or N-CT (n = 14) depending on the scoring margin with five or fewer minutes. A total of 120 player cases who participated in the last 5 min of each game (CT, n = 48; N-CT, n = 72) were analysed using a mixed linear model for repeated measures to compare the CT and N-CT variations. The main results were Cortisol, CMJ and RPE means turned out to be higher in CT, but relevant differences were only identified for RPE (ES = 0.69). Findings suggested that clutch performance was often viewed through players’ subjective parameters. Consequently, we recommend that both players and coaches consider it for CT performance. In addition, we extend current basketball CT indicator knowledge opening future research and applied practice.