Reliability of a repeated-sprint test for field-hockey.
The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of a repeated-sprint test, specifically designed for field-hockey, as it was based directly on the time-motion analysis of elite level competition. The test consisted of 6 x 30-m over-ground sprints departing on 25s, with an active recovery (approximately 3.1-3.3 ms(-1)) between sprints. Ten highly trained, male, field-hockey players (mean+/-S.D.: age, 23+/-3 years; body mass, 78.1+/-7.1 kg) participated in this study. Following familiarisation, the subjects performed the repeated-sprint test on two occasions, 7 days apart. The reliability of the test variables was assessed by the typical error of measurement (TE). The total sprint time was very reliable (T(1): 26.79+/-0.76 s versus T2: 26.83+/-0.74 s), as the TE was 0.7% (95% CL, 0.5-1.2%). However, the percent sprint decrement was less reliable (T1: 5.6+/-0.9% versus T2: 5.8+/-1.0%), with the TE being 14.9% (95% CL, 10.8-31.3%). In summary, it is suggested that this field-hockey-specific, repeated-sprint test is very reliable when the results are presented as the total sprint time.
Spencer
M
M
Team Sport Research Group, School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. mspencer@wais.org.au
Fitzsimons
M
M
Dawson
B
B
Bishop
D
D
Goodman
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006688:Hockey / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*