Introduction

The ability to succeed in sports relies heavily on proprioception since this makes up a fundamental part of athletic performance1,2,3. The exercise method known as proprioceptive training enhances body position control along with movement and balance interpretation through sensory feedback4. Proprioceptive training delivers successful outcomes for running and direction changes, along with jumping and one-leg turns, followed by joint stabilization and muscular control activation, and minority injury prevention and recovery, and performance enhancement5,6. The ability of athletes to adapt to situations becomes more effective through proprioceptive training that coaches and performance practitioners optimize for balance and stability, and body control in their athletes’ field performances7. Sports benefit from enhanced balance capabilities because balance and proprioception share a strong connection8. Research shows that athletes experience better sports results when their dynamic neuromuscular control improves through proprioception training9,10. Basic proprioception training demonstrates its influence on executive function quality assessment with young female basketball players11.

Cognition, sensory balance, and proprioceptive training play pivotal roles in motor skill performance and neuroplasticity, particularly in sports like basketball. Scientific research shows a strong connection between balanced skills with proprioceptive awareness and cognitive functions such as attention, as well as working memory and visual processing speed12,13. Postural stability and basketball-specific skills need motor control together with proprioceptive training for developing better spatial perception and movement sensing abilities in the body14. Elite athletes demonstrate better perceptual abilities, together with action prediction capabilities and motor expertise, which stem from their upgraded sensory-motor integrated system15,16. Sensory-motor exercises, such as balance training, have been shown to improve spatial cognitive functions and to induce structural changes in the brain regions that are involved in visual-vestibular self-motion processing17. Depending on whether the type of exercise is physical or motor training influences neuroplasticity and cognitive functioning differently, with motor training having a direct effect on cognition18.

Using flash reflex-based sensory training systems together with BlazePod provides a complete method to increase sport performance among basketball athletes. Flash reflex training develops reaction time as well as visual-spatial abilities because it guides players through dynamic exercises that mimic actual gameplay situations19. The neuromuscular control combined with balance and kinesthetic awareness of players improves through proprioceptive training when performing under pressure conditions20. Using flash reflex and proprioceptive training methods together enables a complete performance-strengthening effect that enhances both physical attributes and cognitive abilities, including attention selection and real-time decision capacities21,22. Sensory-based interventions (SBIs) together with systems like FITLIGHT lead to enhanced dribbling skills and reduced visual reaction times because they improve sensory processing, according to research findings23,24. Flash reflex and proprioceptive training merge elegantly to improve jump shooting because this training approach enhances ball control while maintaining balance and establishing proper shooting angles according to literature22,25.

Research on youth basketball matches demonstrates regular motor confusion during jump shots because of adolescents experiencing physical growth that impacts ball control and shooting positions25. The influence of sensory-motor perception and proprioceptive training on skill performance remains readily observable, but coaches sometimes fail to recognize this by choosing traditional drills instead of innovative methods23,26,27,28,29. Further research into progressive training equipment integration between flash reflex systems, including BlazePod and proprioceptive programs, should become a priority. This research investigates jump shooting—the vital aspect of basketball—with BlazePod as deliberate intervention through targeted experiments, while distinct from previous work that studied flash reflex systems’ general sports performance enhancements. It can improve precise stimulation delivery and real-match simulation capabilities of BlazePod, enhance shooting angle and velocity, and precision regarding kinematic factors when traditional sensory-motor devices prove insufficient19.

The research evaluates the effects of BlazePod flash reflex training systems on neural mechanisms and basketball-specific performance for athletes. Research has established conventional sensory-motor training benefits, but this study makes a new contribution by studying brain circuit modifications between attention and visual-spatial processing as well as motor planning through flash reflex training as opposed to standard training methods19,21. The research explores how flash reflex exercises are essential to jump shooting performance variables, including release velocity and shooting angle, in addition to horizontal stability. The proposed mechanisms provide improvements that cannot be offered by traditional conditioning programs since they enhance motor control specifically for task22. A planned intervention combines sensory-motor exercises with BlazePod’s flash reflex training to improve both balance and perceptual capabilities, which are fundamental to jump shooting success and skillful neuroplasticity and kinematic variables. The research integrates these methods to enhance player awareness of their position along with precise motor skills, including balance, especially when facing challenging situations. The experimental procedures expect meaningful statistical changes in jump shooting movements and neuroplasticity output between pre- and post-testing stages across both the experimental and control participant groups. After the intervention, the experimental group participants should achieve superior post-assessment results, which can measure the improvements in neuroplasticity alongside technical execution capabilities19. The experimental group is expected to excel over the control group during post-measurement tests, which demonstrates the success of the integrated training approach according to the study findings. The research seeks to add new scientific insights to the field by developing a systematic approach through advanced training methods for player advancement.

Materials and methods

Participation

The program in this study was implemented for eight weeks with amateur basketball participants. We performed an alternative power analysis with G*Power software (University of Düsseldorf) to determine a suitable sample size30. The study initially included 36 amateur basketball participants from the Hajar Club in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The players belong to the trained/developmental amateur category mentioned in McKay AKA et al.31 classification; structure: however, injuries became the reason researchers eliminated four participating athletes before testing began. They parted from the research before experimental commencement and avoided involvement in any testing. Injuries forced four athletes to be excluded from study. The remaining sample of 32 participants was then divided into two groups. The experimental group consisted of 16 participants with the following characteristics: age (mean ± SD) of 18.84 ± 0.60 years, height of 171.13 ± 2.42 cm, weight of 69.44 ± 3.50 kg, training experience of 4.75 ± 0.41 years, BMI of 23.14 ± 0.61 kg/m2, and peripheral visual field degree (pvfs) of 108.31 ± 0.79 degrees for the right eye and 107.25 ± 1.39 degrees for the left eye. The control group also consisted of 16 participants with similar characteristics: age (mean ± SD) of 19.03 ± 0.46 years, height of 171.63 ± 2.00 cm, weight of 69.50 ± 3.35 kg, training experience of 4.63 ± 0.47 years, BMI of 23.33 ± 0.52 kg/m2, and pvfs of 108.31 ± 0.70 degrees for the right eye and 107.44 ± 1.09 degrees for the left eye. The participants were required to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the study: They had to be basketball players from the Hajar Club, to be aged between 18 and 20, to have played sports for at least three years, and to not have any vision or peripheral vision problems. However, the players who were injured or who could not finish the tests were included in the exclusion criteria. As shown in Fig. 1, the peripheral vision in each eye was measured using a Bernell disk24,32 (see Fig. 1). Written consent was obtained from both the participants and their guardians.

Fig. 1
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Peripheral visual field measurement.

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Study design

During study, the BlazePod training system was employed as a flash-based technology. The design and framework of the study were carefully structured around the utilization of sensor-based technologies, such as the BlazePod system. Several factors contributed to the selection of the BlazePod training system for this research project, such as its validation status, reliability, portability, user-friendliness, and the provision of real-time feedback. The system comprises a series of wireless light-emitting diode (LED) dots that are integral to its functionality. BlazePod is a simple, low-energy Bluetooth technology that is used to monitor response times in simple and choice tasks. The reliability of the device has been confirmed in single leg, hand striking, and agility movements in response to LED lights. Acute exercises targeting the body weight were used to create a localized muscular workload33,34,35 (see Fig. 2) and (Appendix A). The study was conducted between June and August 2024; it commenced with an initial measurement phase, followed by the eight-week implementation of an experimental program, which aimed to enhance neuroplasticity and skill performance in jump shooting using flash reflex technology. Post-measurements were conducted upon completion of the program. The pre-and post-measurements involved tests for assessing skill neuroplasticity (see Appendix A). All the participants participated willingly in the study and provided informed consent, adhering to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines36. The procedure was approved by the Ethics Committee of King Faisal University (reference KFU-REC-2023-FEB-ETHICS622).

Fig. 2
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BlazePod flash reflex training system.

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Skillful neuroplasticity tests

Lay-up shooting

The flash reflex was used to evaluate the neuroplasticity test of the lay-up shooting skill. A series of bulbs was positioned along a three-point line, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The player assumed a position beneath the basketball hoop and held a ball; when any of the five bulbs were illuminated, the player executed a dribbling maneuver toward the lit bulb. The player then pressed the bulb to deactivate it before proceeding to perform a lay-up shot. This sequence was repeated until all the lights were illuminated. The lights were activated twice throughout the test. The player’s performance time was recorded, together with the successful deactivation of 10 lights and the execution of 10 shots at the basket. Each successful shot was assigned a value of two points, resulting in the test score being determined by the player’s performance time and the accumulated points (see Fig. 3).

Fig. 3
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Lay-up shooting test.

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Shooting from both short and long distances

The test involved a setup with a series of lights accompanied by a ball rack, as depicted in Fig. 4. The player positioned themselves beneath the basketball hoop and held a ball. When any of the five lights were illuminated, the player moved swiftly toward the lit bulb; they then pressed the bulb to deactivate it before proceeding to execute a double or triple shot depending on the location of the illuminated bulb. This process was repeated until all the lights were illuminated. The LEDs were activated twice during the test. The player’s performance time was recorded, together with the successful deactivation of 10 lights and the execution of 10 shots at the basket. Each successful shot on the three-point line was awarded three points, while shots on the two-hander line were awarded two points, and shots on the free-throw line were awarded one point. The test time was calculated from the moment the first bulb was illuminated until the last bulb was lit and the final shot had been executed (see Fig. 4).

Fig. 4
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Shooting from both short and long distance test.

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Attention and dual motor perception

As shown in Fig. 5, the test consisted of a series of lights placed at heights of 120 cm and 180 cm on 10 stands. The player stood in the middle of the forbidden region. The player needed to move quickly to the lit bulb and press it to deactivate it once any of the lights came on, and to continue to do this until every light was illuminated. The LEDs were only turned on once during the test. The test time was computed from the moment that the first bulb was illuminated until the last bulb was lit, in addition to recording the player’s performance time and deactivating all 10 lights (see Fig. 5).

Fig. 5
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Attention and dual motor perception test.

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Tools and devices

The InBody 720 instrument (InBody Corporation, Seoul, Republic of Korea), which has been validated previously, was utilized to measure body weight and height37,38. Various tools were used, including tape measures, basketballs, cones, stopwatches, and BlazePod (BlazePod Inc., Miami, FL, USA). BlazePod consists of LED lights that illuminate randomly and turn off when touched. Previous studies have reported reliable results when using these tools39,40,41,42. The BlazePod smart app, which utilizes Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) technology, was also used. This app is freely available for both Android and iOS users, making it more accessible compared to other response time training systems that require specialized software and tablets, and which are often more expensive25.

Procedures

The researcher conducted anthropometric measurements by assessing the participants. All the evaluations took place in the evening, three hours after the participants’ last meal, in a controlled environment (the club’s training hall) without any external distractions. After the anthropometric measurements, the participants underwent a 10-minute warm-up session that consisted of jogging, dribbling, and stretching. Reflective markings, 1.5 cm in diameter, were placed on specific anatomical points on the skin and clothing, including the ear, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot43. Each participant took 10 shots from a forward position 4.80 m from the basketball hoop. An assistant caught the rebound of each shot and passed the ball back to the shooting participant. A second assistant used a digital camera (Canon Power Shot SX530, Canon Inc., Tokyo, Japan) recording at 30 fps to capture images of each of the 10 attempts. The camera was positioned eight meters away from the player’s dominant side in the sagittal plane, at a height of 1.20 m from the playing field44,45,46. The measurement of skill neuroplasticity skills was conducted the next day, following a 10-minute warm-up, and measurements.

Kinematic model for basketball jump shots

With one hand and jump shots

With most of the shots in today’s games being categorized as either one hand or jump shots, these shots have become the most common in modern basketball. While shooters are supposed to hold the ball in their shooting hand and then position it near their head, they need to raise and extend their elbow and snap their wrist forward. The non-shooting arm plays the role of a support for the ball and positions it in the desired release angle. Some previous studies recommended that a shooter should visualize a straight vertical line through the ball, their wrist, elbow, and the shoulder that is directed toward the target46,47,48,49.

Imaging procedures for the analysis process

The present study used two digital video cameras at a speed of 50 fps. The first camera was positioned on a tripod and at a height of 1.70 m (measured from the ground level to the focal point of the lens) and was pointed to the right of the event at a tilt of 45 degrees (front + side) to photograph the basketball. The second camera was placed on the right side of the event, perpendicular to it (side plane); placing the reflective signs at the anatomic boundaries of the joints that are involved in the movement was also very important because this would assist in evaluating the reference values of the signs (see Fig. 6). The players prepared for the experiment in 10 min after warming up. Each participant was required to perform a jump shot with their right hand on the ground. A picture of the athlete was taken after marking their joints. This was followed by the training session, during which the players completed 10 subsequent trials; every attempt took place when the signal was given. The results of the attempts were recorded on a form for each player, and the numbers of successful and failed shots in the 10 attempts were calculated manually.

Fig. 6
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Photography process.

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The data were analyzed using Kinovea software (version 0.8.15, available for download at: https://www.kinovea.org/). Kinovea is an open-source software under the GPLv2 license and is a 2D motion-analysis program50. This program assisted in the calculation of the regressing body trajectory angle during jump shooting. The jump shooting skill is recorded via video; the angle itself is reconstructed, and the program analyzes the angles that are produced. For the dunking assessment, the first step was to analyze the initial data retrieval process by conducting a jump shooting test to divide the players into groups. The test was conducted at 4:30 pm in the gym at the Hajar Sports Club; Fig. 7 shows a model of the motor analysis of the jump shooting skill. (see Fig. 7)

Fig. 7
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Diagram kinematic analysis.

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Training program

The program was designed to enhance basketball players’ skill neuroplasticity and to improve their jump shooting skills. The experimental group participated in 32 training sessions, with four sessions per week over eight weeks. Each training session lasted for between 45 and 60 min, with an additional 15 to 20 min being allocated to warm-up and cool-down phases, which were conducted separately. The exercises included perceptual-kinesthetic exercises, motor balance exercises, flash reflex perceptual-kinesthetic exercises, and motor balance exercises. These exercises were performed in three to four sets with eight to 12 repetitions. The arrangement and colors of the lights were modified in the flash reflex exercises; the exercises gradually progressed from simple to complex and from easy to difficult. Tables 1, 2 and 3 show the distribution of the program on various days of the week, and see Table 4 in Appendix A.

During all training sessions, the experimental group applied BlazePod technology to perform exercises that enhanced both motor and cognitive responses. The experimental participants developed their reflexes and motor coordination through training sessions that used BlazePod technology, which involves lighting patterns with complex response requirements. The group used BlazePod to create exercises which increased in difficulty from simple to complex, as they wanted to provide advancing challenges to participants while enhancing their motor skills together with cognitive abilities. Simple exercises with one light of a particular color and a slow illumination cycle (3-second intervals) and two to three BlazePod discs operated at minimum complexity levels defined the basic phase. The intermediate phase required increased difficulty through more BlazePod discs (4–6), dual light colors, and 1.5-second illumination duration. Multi-level patterns, like circular and crisscross patterns, were added to boost eye-movement coordination capabilities between subjects. The final part of the exercise progression involved using 8 to 10 discs with three varying light colors as participants learned to respond within one second. The training added complex motor device tasks that needed perfect coordination of vision and movement, including ball throwing, along with jumping sequences. The exercise development process followed gradual stages, which allowed the creation of a comprehensive training program that supported participants at various levels through continuous mental stimulation for substantial performance enhancement.

The control group executed different exercises with various activities along with different execution times than the experimental group to observe traditional versus modern technology-based training with BlazePod. The experimental group was trained at different times compared to the control group to prevent any influence between traditional and technological training methods. Traditional sports exercises made up the control group protocols since they avoided technological participation and fast reflex enhancement, allowing only balance and basic movement activities that focus on motor skill acquisition through non-advanced equipment. Both groups received consistent training periods between 45 and 60 min for each session yet performed separate warm-up and cool-down periods totaling 15 to 20 min respectively before and after their sessions, while conducting dissimilar exercises. Simple non-technological exercises for basic body management served as the primary training approach for the control group. Their focus lay on developing fundamental control elements.

Table 1 Time distribution of the sports program.
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Table 2 The content, objectives and techniques used in the sports program.
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Table 3 The content, objectives and techniques used in the sports program.
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Time frame

The researcher conducted baseline variable assessments through preliminary tests between June 25 and 26, 2024, prior to commencing the training program. The eight-week training program began operation on June 30, 2024, and ran until August 22, 2024. The final tests, which occurred from August 24 to 25, 2024, followed the same approach that initial testing used in June 2024.

Statistical analysis

Statistical processing of the research findings was done using IBM-SPSS 26 (Chicago, IL, USA) software. The following statistical information was calculated to highlight the significance of the obtained results denotes; standard deviation; coefficient of variation; and a confidence interval consisting of lower and upper limits (95% CI); the results were presented as the mean and standard deviation (\({ {\bar {\text {X}}}}\), SD) in tables to perform a t-test analysis. The range of effect sizes was determined using Cohen’s d, according to which values falling between 0 and 0.2 denote a modest or nonsignificant effect, values between 0.2 and 0.5 indicate a moderate effect, values from 0.5 to 0.8 suggest a strong effect, and values of more than 1.4 imply a very large effect. In this case, the threshold for significance was set to p < 0.05. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) method for repeated measures was used to determine the mean differences between the experimental and the control groups. In this study, the reference value that was established for statistical significance was p ≤ 0. 05. The ANOVA was adopted as per the recommendations of statisticians regarding the data samples of the experimental and control groups for the applied tests.

Results

The results depicted in Fig. 8. illustrate the initial and final measurements of the experimental and Control groups. The final measurements demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the measurements in the Control group (see Fig. 8).

Fig. 8
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Mean and percentage improvement.

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The mean and standard deviation of the initial test and final test for the basketball players of the A kinematic analysis for the jump shooting and measurement of skillful neuroplasticity for the experimental and control groups (Table 4).

Table 4 Description of statistics.
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The results consisted of the F-statistic from analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the main effects: Main effects and within-subjects effect size Cohen’s d for the measurement and group, and ηp2 for the Interaction (measurement group) (Table 5). The results of Bonferroni’s post hoc test indicated that the rate of the increase from pre- to post-test in all variables was significantly higher for the experimental group than the control group. The ANOVA details are as follows Table 6. below shows the ANOVA details. To sum up, the investigation results were as follows: This explanation may hold because p < 0. 05, there was a higher significant effect determined contrary to all the study variables.

Table 5 The results provided involved the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the ηp2 values for the main effects (measurement and group) as well as for the interaction (measurement group).
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Independent samples test

Table 6 Independent samples test.
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Table 6 shows that most variables in the experimental and control groups showed significant differences based on independent samples t-tests and Cohen’s d effect sizes. Several variables, including RV, VV, HV showed unequal variances according to Levene’s test, which requires careful analysis of the t-test findings. Substantial improvements surfaced in release velocity (RV) (d = 5.38), release angle (Ra) (d = 5.83), and shooting efficacy (Se) (d = 6.25) within the experimental group, indicating effective success of the intervention. The results demonstrated high practical value through very large effect sizes in attention/dual motor perception (A&dmp, d = 7.50) and lay-up shooting time (LUS sec, d = 25.93). Vertical velocity (VV) experienced no change between groups that reached statistical significance (p = 0.548). This indicates minimal effects within this measurement variant. The results demonstrated robustness through confidence intervals (95% CI) because the narrow ranges supported accurate measurement of mean differences. The intervention produced significant positive changes in most performance-related variables, including speed measures and accuracy outcomes, as well as dual-task ability assessment results.

Discussion

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of sensory perception and motor balance exercises on basketball players’ skill neuroplasticity and various kinematic variables related to jump shooting. The training program consisted of four sessions per week over eight weeks. The inclusion of perceptual motor and motor balance exercises utilizing flash reflexes proved to be highly effective51,52as the results of the study revealed a significant improvement in all the variables from the initial to the final test. The results of this study provide compelling evidence that the training program, which included sensory perception and motor balance exercises using flash reflexes, led to significant improvements in the basketball players’ jump shooting performances. The kinematic analysis revealed improvements in various variables, such as release height, vertical and horizontal velocities, release angle, shooting efficiency, and release height. Moreover, the training program had a positive impact on the basketball players’ skill neuroplasticity; these improvements were statistically significant and have practical implications for refining shooting techniques and improving overall performances. Overall, the findings highlight the effectiveness of incorporating sensory perception and motor balance exercises to improve basketball players’ shooting skills and neuroplasticity.

The experimental group was significantly better in all the variables when compared to the control group. These improvements included an increase in release speed, vertical velocity, and shooting efficiency, together with a decrease in lay-up shooting time, shooting short and long distances, attention, and dual motor perception time. All the calculated t-values and p-values showed statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups for all the variables (p < 0.05). Most of the effect sizes (d) were low to moderate, thus indicating the degrees of difference between the groups. In general, the findings indicate that the intervention improved the kinematic analysis of jump shooting and the basketball players’ skill neuroplasticity, with changes across several performance measures.

Balance training not only challenges the sensory-motor system and vestibular self-motion perception but also has the potential to induce structural changes in the brain53. Athletes who engage in physical practice training have demonstrated improvements in their ability to predict others’ actions by reading body kinematics, while observational practice training enhances their understanding of ball trajectory54. Furthermore, motor expertise, particularly in endurance athletes, is linked to functional and structural brain alterations that impact positively on sensory-motor performances and learning capabilities55. These compelling findings highlight the importance of perception and sensory-motor balance training in fostering neuroplasticity in players, thereby enhancing their cognitive and motor abilities.

Several studies have investigated the relationship of cognitive exercises, motor sense, balance, and neuroplasticity in the context of basketball. Fonseca, J. B. et al.56 discovered that lower limb neuromotor exercises had a positive impact on basketball players’ dynamic balance, even though the validity of the evidence was still relatively low. A study by Lucia, S. et al.57 examined the effects of cognitive-motor dual-task training (CMDT) on the sporting and cognitive performances of basketball athletes and revealed improvements in dribbling and cognitive task performances. Seidel O. et al.58 also found that CMDT had positive effects, with sex-related compensatory effects being observed in the neural basis of these benefits. Furthermore, a study by Chao, C. et al.59 compared endurance athletes and non-athletes, and found that highly trained athletes exhibited superior motor skill learning and functional neuroplasticity in the motor-related brain regions.

The study by Gutiérrez-Capote A. et al.60 shed light on the significant impact of short-term exercises on basketball players’ neuroplasticity. Their research revealed that even brief exercise regimens could produce noteworthy changes in the brain’s ability to adapt and change, particularly during the early stages of skill acquisition. Specifically, the authors found that short-latency afferent inhibition and facilitation were notably affected by the exercise regimens. These findings provided valuable insights into the potential benefits of exercise on neuroplasticity, especially within the context of sports and skill development, as highlighted in the study by Hong-Xian, D. et al.61. This emphasizes the importance of integrating exercise not only for improved physical performance, but also for athletes’ motor development and skill enhancement. These findings shed light on the complex interplay of cognitive exercises, motor sense, balance, and neuroplasticity in the context of basketball, thus providing valuable insights for athletes and researchers alike.

Chao, C. et al.’s59 study revealed that motor training, particularly group basketball training supported by FITLIGHT training, had the potential to enhance young players’ executive functions and motor performances. This suggests that targeted motor training can yield significant cognitive and physical benefits for aspiring athletes. Similarly, Silvestri F. et al.62 confirmed that the motor experience of basketball players was closely linked to distinct cortical activation and deactivation during perceptual and cognitive tasks, thus indicating elevated neural efficiency. These findings highlight the unique cognitive and neural adaptations that result from intensive motor training in basketball; collectively, these studies shed light on the profound impact of motor training on cognitive function, neural efficiency, and structural plasticity, thus establishing a compelling case for the integration of motor training into athletic development programs.

Limitations and future studies

The research demonstrates significant findings about how flash feedback-based sensorimotor training practices influence jump shooting performance in basketball players. This study presents several constraints that should be taken into consideration. The study results may not apply widely because its small participant count (32 players) restricts broad application to all basketball athletes. Future research needs to expand the study sample with participants from multiple demographics to boost the external validity of the concluded results. The research omitted control of potential confounding factors because participants were educated about proper sleep routines along with adequate nutrition, although it might not have been sufficient. Future studies must account for these variables to determine separate influences of sprint reaction training on the results. The research analyzed exclusively kinematic elements related to throwing without investigating other essential basketball abilities, such as defensive or dribbling performance. Scientists should conduct additional studies that investigate the impact of this training method on different basketball skills not covered in this examination. The brief study period fails to determine whether performance improvements from this intervention will be maintained in the future. Additional research must use longitudinal methods to determine if the study advantages maintain their effectiveness throughout multiple periods. Advanced neuroimaging techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography, should be implemented to investigate neuroplasticity mechanics because they could reveal how sprint reaction training affects brain networks and motor learning networks.

Conclusions

The resulting evidence has consistently shown that the introduction of perceptual motor balance training, especially via the flash reflex technique, is beneficial for basketball players’ jump shooting skill neuroplasticity and related motor performances. These practices have demonstrated remarkable improvements in most of the variables that were evaluated, with the experimental group always performing better than the control group. The combination of sensory perception and motor balance training, together with the visual stimuli, has the potential to increase basketball players’ performances. In doing so, coaches could maximize skill development as well as the overall performance of their players. It is worth mentioning that the length and effects of these training programs may differ from one player to another based on their age, level of development, and general health status. Coaches should adapt the exercises to suit their players’ needs and skills. In summary, coaches are advised to adopt these perceptual and motor balance exercises as a regular routine to enhance their basketball players’ performances. This would enable coaches to improve their results during basketball matches and assist in the further improvement of players’ skills.

Practical implication of the study

The study findings prove that positive feedback from flash-based technologies, such as BlazePod, enhances jump shot abilities by improving speed while developing coordination and accuracy. Coaching staff should integrate technology into training exercises to help athletes refine their skill set along with cognitive-motor capabilities, which results in better adaptation performance during high-pressure situations. Subject participants who trained with the BlazePod showed major improvements in launch angle and shot velocity through tests that produced recorded very large effect sizes of 5.38 and 5.83, respectively. Staff members should evaluate a player’s age combined with performance level during the training program design. The training regimen for novice or less trained players should feature basic stimulus elements to prevent mental overload, yet advanced players must use complex stimulation methods.

For coaches to maintain enduring enhancement of performance, they must follow a training program structure that starts with fundamental activities and increases complexity as players demonstrate progress. The research demonstrates that technological feedback systems provide objective assessment data, which enables trainers to recognize performance deficiencies through data analysis in order to enhance training protocols. This research examined jump shots, but teachers can use these principles to teach various skills such as dribbling and defense. The research results motivate scientists to explore more applications of these technologies across multiple areas of basketball development. Implementing BlazePod technology represents a meaningful advancement for complete and durable athletic development improvements.