title: The use of sprint tests for assessment of speed qualities of elite Australian rules footballers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between split times within sprint tests over 30 m and 40 m in elite Australian Rules footballers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from two Australian Football League (AFL) clubs. The first club (n = 35) conducted a 40-m sprint test and recorded split times at 10 m and 20 m. The second club (n = 30) conducted a 30-m sprint test and recorded splits at 10 m and 20 m. Analyses included calculation of Pearson correlations and common variances between all the split times as well as "flying" times (20-40 m for the first club and 20 to 30 m for the second club).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a high correlation (r = 0.94) between 10-m time and 20-m time within each club, indicating these measures assessed very similar speed qualities. The correlations between 10-m time and times to 30 m and 40 m decreased, but still produced common variances of 79% and 66% respectively. However when the "flying" times (20-40 m and 20-30 m) were correlated to 10-m time, the common variances decreased substantially to 25% and 42% respectively, indicating uniqueness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that 10-m time is a good reflection of acceleration capabilities and either 20 to 40 m in a 40-m sprint test or 20 to 30 m in a 30-m sprint test can be used to estimate maximum speed capabilities. It was suggested that sprint tests over 30 m or 40 m can be conducted indoors to provide useful information about independent speed qualities in athletes.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement & Sport Sciences, University of Ballarat, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cormack
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001315:Australia; D005080:Exercise Test; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*