The most important justification for modifying children's practice conditions is for them to create the habit of practicing sport. The goal was to determine whether training with a ball of lower mass favored an increase of enjoyment, perceived competence, and intention to be physically active.

Participants were 12 boys (aged: 10.25±0.62-years-old) from the best participant team in a regional level federate competition. We performed a single case experiment following the A1-B-A2 design (during four months). The independent variable was the mass of ball (regulation ball: 490g, 69–71cm and ball of smaller mass: 440g, 69–71cm). The dependent variables were: enjoyment, perceived competence, and intention to be physically active. In the first phase (A1=14 training sessions), the participants trained with the regulation ball, in the second one (B=10 training sessions), with the ball of lower mass, and in the third one (A2=8 training sessions), with the regulation ball again. The participants completed the Intention to be Physically Active Scale [1Arias, et al. Psychometric properties of the intention to be physically active scale in primary education Rev Ed 2013 ;  362 : 485-505

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références] and the Enjoyment and Perceived Competence Scale in Youth Basketball Scale [2Arias-Estero, et al. Psychometric properties and results of enjoyment and perceived competence scale in youth basketball Univ Psychol 2013 ;  12 : 945-956

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références] at the end of the training sessions. The issues of the contents and training times were controlled during all three phases. ARIMA methodology [3Box, Jenkins Time series analysis: forecasting and control  :  (1976). 

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références] was used for data analysis.

Perceived competence, F(2, 29)=19.10, P=.000, η_p²=.56, and intention to be physically active, F(2, 29)=4.53, P=.019, η_p²=.23, were greater in phase B with regard to A1, and in A2 with regard to A1 (P=.000). There were no statistically significant differences for enjoyment, F(2, 29)=2.35, P=075, η_p²=.11. Reduction of ball mass seems to have enabled ball handling and therefore the success in pass, dribble, and shoot. The smaller ball was not associated with an increase of enjoyment because participants already do what they like playing basketball.

The 440-g ball seems better adapted to the participants’ possibilities and interests in comparison with the regulation ball.