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Abstract
The free throw in basketball is a decisive technical action, as it is performed in highly demanding psychological contexts that require concentration, emotional control, and motor precision. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between stress vulnerability and free throw effectiveness in basketball players from the Phoenix Specialized Training Sports Club in the city of Loja, Ecuador. The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental, field design with a mixed approach and a longitudinal cross-sectional study. The population and sample consisted of 40 athletes, 20 men and 20 women, aged between 14 and 20 years. Vulnerability to stress was assessed using the Miller and Smith Stress Vulnerability Test, while free throw effectiveness was measured using a standardized scale adapted from Díaz Cabrera. The results showed a low level of vulnerability to stress, with an average of 27.2 points, and an average effectiveness of 60.08%, classified as fair. The findings indicate that stress vulnerability has a low influence on free throw effectiveness, suggesting that performance depends on the interaction between psychological and technical factors. It is concluded that psychological and technical training strategies need to be integrated to optimize performance under pressure.
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