## 4 Discussion
Indeed, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [46] found that sled training with a specific load among athletes with an average age of about 15 years actually slowed down the sprint speed of those who had not yet reached sexual maturity, compared to those who had fully mature [46]. In this study, in an attempt to minimize differences in relative loads between participants, relative weights of only 40% of the participants' weights were used. Additionally, in this study, significant improvements in the horizontal jump test were only observed in the sled-pushing group, and significant but unclear improvements were only found in the vertical jump test in both sled groups. No significant improvements were found in either the sprint tests or post-intervention agility tests, in any group. The lack of significant improvements in most performance measures in the current study, compared to positive findings in previous studies, could stem from various reasons. First, the training period implemented in the current study was relatively short (about one month), compared to longer intervention periods seen in other studies (two-three months) [36; 40; 47]. The five-week intervention applied in this study may not have been sufficient for inducing significant changes in the young participants; the small team size and inclusion-exclusion criteria limited the number of eligible participants. Further studies are needed to improve the generalizability of the results, including a larger sample size and a control group [48]. Moreover, sled pushing and pulling resistance exercises provide a less conventional training modality than the bodyweight jumps and short, fast sprints to which the participants in this study were accustomed. With sleds, athletes need to develop a specific technique for running against such resistance, as well as exerting power for overcoming the additional weight and initiating movement from a static position. It is possible that an adaptation period--with an emphasis on technique learning, based on running with added yet light resistance (10-20% body weight) prior to the intervention--may have been beneficial. Sled training and added weight could teach athletes how to maintain the desired body position while pushing as a means for increasing horizontal force. Yet athletes who are new to sled pushing tend to lean overly forward--potentially negatively affecting their running technique during acceleration. Moreover, as the athletes' hands must grip the push handles, they cannot use these limbs to enhance body balance during the sprint [40; 49]. Interestingly, in a study on professional rugby players, the findings revealed that the greater the sled weight, the smaller the stride lengths and the greater the forward lean--leading to higher horizontal forces [41]. Although non-significant, improvements were seen in the current study in all measures in both sled-training groups compared to those in the control group. This adds to the literature whereby sled training contributes to anaerobic performance. In the game of basketball, which primarily relies on anaerobic performance, players could especially benefit from sled training. Movements specific to the game, such as rebounds, agility diribbles, blocks, changes of direction, and fast breakouts, could enhance players' productivity and contribution to the team, following the use of this specific training tool. A more detailed examination of the impact of sled training, especially the comparison between the various performance measures tested in the current study, indicated that improvements in the horizontal and vertical jump tests were greater than improvements in the sprint and agility tests. This suggested that sled training may be more effective for improving explosive strength--characterized by cyclical movements such as jumps, compared to improving speed--characterized by cyclical movements such as running. A study supporting this assumption found that the heavier the sled, the lower the step frequency, yet the higher the pushing force [41].