title: A field-test battery for elite, young soccer players.
abstract: The validity and reliability of a battery of field-based performance tests was examined. The opinions of coaches, fitness professionals and players (n=170, 172 and 101 respectively) on the importance of performance testing were established using a questionnaire. On 2 occasions, separated by 7 days, 80 elite, young soccer players (mean±SD [and range]: age 13.2±2.6 [8.9-19.1] years; stature 1.59±0.18 m [1.32-1.91]; body mass 50.6±17.1 [26.5-88.7] kg) completed a battery of field-based tests comprised of heart rate response to a submaximal Multi-stage fitness test, 3 types of vertical jump, sprints over 10 and 20 m, and an agility test. Physical performance testing was considered important by coaches (97%), fitness professionals (94%) and players (83%). The systematic bias ratio and the random error components of the 95% ratio limits of agreement for the first and second tests, for the U9-U11 vs. U12-U14 vs. U15-U18 age groups, were [Systematic bias (*/÷ ratio limits)]: Heart rate (Level 5): 0.983 (*/÷ 1.044) vs. 0.969 (*/÷ 1.056) vs. 0.983 (*/÷ 1.055); Rocket jump: 0998 (*/÷ 1.112) vs. 0.999 (*/÷ 1.106) vs. 0.996 (*/÷ 1.093); 10 m sprint: 0.997 (*/÷ 1.038) vs. 0.994 (*/÷ 1.033) vs. 0.994 (*/÷ 1.038); Agility test: 1.010 (*/÷1.050) vs. 1.014 (*/÷1.050) vs. 1.002 (*/÷1.053). All tests, except heart rate recovery from the Multi-stage fitness test, were able to distinguish between different ability and age groups of players (p<0.05). Thus, the field-test battery demonstrated logical and construct validity, and was shown to be a reliable and objective tool for assessing elite, young soccer players.
authors.affiliation: Manchester United Limited, Manchester United Football Club, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hulse
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodson
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nevill
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nevill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017144:Focus Groups; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires