Validity of simple field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players

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Rampinini, E, Bishop, David ORCID: 0000-0002-6956-9188, Marcora, S, Ferrari Bravo, D, Sassi, R and Impellizzeri, F (2007) Validity of simple field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 28 (3). pp. 228-235. ISSN 0172-4622

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the construct validity of selected field tests as indicators of match-related physical performance. During the competitive season, eighteen professional soccer players (age 26.2 ± 4.5 yrs, mass 80.8 ± 7.8 kg, and height 181.9 ± 3.7 cm) completed an incremental running field test to exhaustion, a vertical-jump and a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test. Match physical performance was quantified during official matches using a video-computerized, semi-automatic, match analysis image recognition system, (ProZone®, Leeds, UK). The selected measures of match physical performance were: total distance covered (TD), high intensity running (HIR: > 14.4 km · h-1), very high intensity running (VHIR:> 19.8 km · h-1), sprinting (> 25.2 km · h-1) and top running speed. Significant correlations were found between peak speed reached during the incremental field test and TD (r = 0.58, R2 = 0.34; p < 0.05), HIR (r = 0.65, R2 = 0.42; p < 0.01) and VHIR (r = 0.64, R2 = 0.41; p < 0.01). Significant correlations were also found between RSA mean time and VHIR (r = - 0.60, R2 = 0.36; p < 0.01) and sprinting distance (r = - 0.65, R2 = 0.42; p < 0.01). Significant differences were found between the best and worst group as defined by the median split technique for peak speed (TD = 12 011 ± 747 m vs. 10 712 ± 669, HIR = 3192 ± 482 m vs. 2314 ± 347 m, and VHIR = 1014 ± 120 vs. 779 ± 122 m, respectively; p < 0.05) and RSA mean time (VHIR = 974 ± 162 m vs. 819 ± 144 m, and sprinting = 235 ± 56 vs. 164 ± 58 m, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study gives empirical support to the construct validity of RSA and incremental running tests as measures of match-related physical performance in top-level professional soccer players.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/8050
DOI 10.1055/s-2006-924340
Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-924340
Subjects Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL)
Historical > FOR Classification > 1106 Human Movement and Sports Science
Keywords ResPubID22095. soccer players, footballers, football, match performance, field tests, construct validity, convergent validity, group difference, repeated sprint ability, RSA, sprints
Citations in Scopus 452 - View on Scopus
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