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.
Team Sport Research Group, School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. mspencer@wais.org.au
M
M
Spencer
M
M
Fitzsimons
B
B
Dawson
D
D
Bishop
C
C
Goodman
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*