title: Reliability, Validity and Usefulness of 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test in Female Soccer Players.
abstract: PURPOSE:The aim of this study was to examine the reliability, validity and usefulness of the 30-15IFTin competitive female soccer players.METHODS:Seventeen elite female soccer players participated in the study. A within subject test-retest study design was utilized to assess the reliability of the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT). Seven days prior to 30-15IFT, subjects performed a continuous aerobic running test (CT) under laboratory conditions to assess the criterion validity of the 30-15IFT. End running velocity (VCTand VIFT), peak heart rate (HRpeak) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were collected and/or estimated for both tests.RESULTS:VIFT(ICC = 0.91; CV = 1.8%), HRpeak (ICC = 0.94; CV = 1.2%), and VO2max(ICC = 0.94; CV = 1.6%) obtained from the 30-15IFTwere all deemed highly reliable (p> 0.05). Pearson product moment correlations between the CT and 30-15IFTfor VO2max, HRpeak and end running velocity were large (r= 0.67,p= 0.013), very large (r= 0.77,p= 0.02) and large (r= 0.57,p= 0.042), respectively.CONCLUSION:Current findings suggest that the 30-15IFTis a valid and reliable intermittent aerobic fitness test of elite female soccer players. The findings have also provided practitioners with evidence to support the accurate detection of meaningful individual changes in VIFTof 0.5 km/h (1 stage) and HRpeak of 2 bpm. This information may assist coaches in monitoring "real" aerobic fitness changes to better inform training of female intermittent team sport athletes. Lastly, coaches could use the 30-15IFTas a practical alternative to laboratory based assessments to assess and monitor intermittent aerobic fitness changes in their athletes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Nedim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Čović
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Eldin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jelešković
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Haris
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Izet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rađo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Kinesiology Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Erduan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kafedžić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sporiš
authors.affiliation: Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand, AUT UniversityAuckland, New Zealand; Health, Sport and Human Performance, University of WaikatoHamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: McMaster
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš Niš, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Milanović
keywords: 30–15 intermittent fitness test; aerobic; cardiorespiratory fitness; high intensity interval training; intermittent activity; soccer