A master’s thesis by student Ahmed Othman Mustafa was recently defended at the College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Baghdad, titled:
“Special Exercises Using the Home Court Basketball Application and Their Impact on Certain Motor Abilities and Combined Defensive and Offensive Skills in U-18 Basketball Players.”
The examining committee was composed of:
•Prof. Dr. Luay Sami Rifat – Chair
•Prof. Dr. Hawal Khurshid Rafiq – Member
•Asst. Prof. Dr. Omar Mohammed Majid – Member
•Prof. Dr. Wasan Hanoun Ali – Member and Supervisor
The significance of the research lies in the integration of modern technological tools into the training process—particularly essential due to the resource constraints and traditional infrastructure faced by many sports clubs. The study aimed to examine the effect of using the AI-powered Home Court Basketball application to enhance specific motor abilities and complex offensive and defensive skills among under-18 basketball players.
The thesis focused on measuring players’ performance in selected motor and skill-related variables before and after implementing a training program using the Home Court app. This app provides interactive, real-time drills to improve reaction speed, agility, defensive movements, and defensive shooting techniques, in addition to developing composite offensive skills such as receiving, dribbling, and shooting accuracy.
This research aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
•Goal 4: Quality Education, by incorporating technology-enhanced learning in sports training.
•Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, through the promotion of structured, engaging physical activity for youth.
•Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, by encouraging the use of innovative digital platforms in traditional training environments.
The researcher recommended organizing training workshops for coaches to effectively use AI-based sports applications and encouraged schools and clubs to create the necessary infrastructure—such as smart devices, cameras, and stable internet access—to integrate tools like Home Court Basketball into their training systems.
