Introduction:
Optimizing youth basketball training to improve balance, agility, and technical skills is essential for athletic development and performance. Although proprioceptive training has demonstrated benefits in various sports, its specific effects on agility and shooting accuracy in adolescent basketball players remain insufficiently investigated. Proprioceptive exercises are a key component of neuromuscular training programs designed to enhance motor control and movement efficiency.

Aim of the study:
This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week neuromuscular (proprioceptive-focused) training program on balance, agility, and shooting accuracy in youth basketball players.

Material and methods:
Forty-four male athletes aged 12–14 years participated in the intervention, which was integrated into regular basketball practice sessions. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test, agility through the Agility T-Test and Defensive Cone Drill Test, upper-limb stability via the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test, and shooting accuracy using the Speed Spot Shooting Test. Pre- and post-intervention results were compared using paired sample t-tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:
Following the intervention, significant improvements were observed in dynamic balance (p < 0.001) and agility (p < 0.05). Upper-limb stability also improved significantly. Shooting accuracy demonstrated a positive but nonsignificant trend (p = 0.08). These findings suggest that enhanced neuromuscular control and proprioceptive awareness contribute to more efficient movement patterns, greater stability, and potentially reduced injury risk.

Conclusions:
The results indicate that a structured 12-week neuromuscular training program can effectively improve key physical performance components in adolescent basketball players. While improvements in shooting accuracy were modest, the overall findings support the inclusion of proprioceptive-focused exercises in youth basketball training to enhance athletic performance and motor development.