scholarly journals Importance of Reactive Agility and Change of Direction Speed in Differentiating Performance Levels in Junior Soccer Players: Reliability and Validity of Newly Developed Soccer-Specific Tests

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haris Pojskic ◽  
Erik Åslin ◽  
Ante Krolo ◽  
Ivan Jukic ◽  
Ognjen Uljevic ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Nikola Foretic ◽  
Barbara Gilic ◽  
Damir Sekulic

Purpose: Agility is an important determinant of success in football (soccer), but there is a lack of reliable and valid tests applicable in the evaluation of different agility components in youth football players. In this study we evaluated the reliability and factorial validity of the two newly developed tests of agility in male youth football players. Methods: The sample comprised 44 youth football players (all males, 14–15 years of age) who were tested on anthropometrics (body height and mass), newly developed tests of foot-ball specific reactive agility (FS-RAG) and change of direction speed (FS-CODS), one stand-ard test of CODS (20-yards), and sprinting over 20-m distance (S20M). The relative reliability is evaluated by calculation of Intra-Class-Correlation coeficients (ICC), while the absolute reliability was evaluated by calculation of the coeficient of variation (CV). Further, systematic bias was checked by analysis of variance for repeated measurements (ANOVA). The asso-ciations between studied variables were evidenced by Pearson’s correlation. Finally, factor analysis was calculated to define the factorial validity of agility tests (FS-RAG, FS-CODS, 20-yards). Results: The newly developed football-specific tests were found to be reliable, with better re-liability of FS-CODS (ICC: 0.81, CV: 6%), than of FS-RAG (ICC: 0.76, CV: 9%). The ANOVA evidenced significant (p < 0.05) learning effects for FS-RAG, but post-hoc analysis indicated stabilization of the results until the third testing trial. Factor analysis extracted one significant factor under the Guttmann-Kaiser criterion (Explained Variance: 1.67), showing the appro-priate factorial validity of newly developed tests in comparison to standard agility indicator 20-yards. Meanwhile, the significant correlations between all agility performances with S20M (Pearson’s R: 0.52–0.63; all p < 0.01) revealed that sprinting capacity significantly influence agility performances and that conditioning capacities of youth football players are not yet discriminated. Conclusion: Results showed appropriate reliability and validity of the newly developed tests of football specific change of direction speed and reactive agility. Therefore, here proposed FS-CODS and FS-RAG can be used as reliable and valid measures of agility components in youth football players. Further studies should evaluate the discriminative validity of the here proposed tests (i.e. identification of position-specific or performance-related differences), as well as reliability in younger players than those studied herein.


Author(s):  
Nebojša Trajković ◽  
Goran Sporiš ◽  
Tomislav Krističević ◽  
Dejan M. Madić ◽  
Špela Bogataj

The ability to differentiate the elite from nonelite athletes is not clearly defined. We investigated level differences in speed, change of direction speed (CODS), and reactive agility in a group of trained adolescent soccer players. A total of 75 adolescent male soccer players (aged 14–19 years) were recruited. The players were grouped based on the level of play to elite, sub-elite, and amateur players. Players were tested for 5-, 10- and 20-m sprints, CODS, and reactive agility tests (RAT). Elite players had faster reaction movement time during RAT with live opponent stimuli (p ≤ 0.01) compared to sub-elite and amateur players. Moreover, elite players showed a faster time during light stimuli (p ≤ 0.01) but only compared to amateur players. The times for 5-m and 10-m sprint groups did not differ (p > 0.05). The results demonstrated that the skilled players (elite and sub-elite) performed better in reactive agility tests, speed, and COD speed compared to amateur players. Additionally, we can conclude that total and reaction time in the agility test with live opponent stimuli can be a significant factor that differentiates between adolescent soccer players considering their level.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-74
Author(s):  
Samo Rauter ◽  
Milan Coh ◽  
Janez Vodicar ◽  
Milan Zvan ◽  
Josef Krizaj ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athos Trecroci ◽  
Zoran Milanović ◽  
Alessio Rossi ◽  
Marco Broggi ◽  
Damiano Formenti ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Slobodan Andrašić ◽  
Marko Gušić ◽  
Mima Stanković ◽  
Draženka Mačak ◽  
Asim Bradić ◽  
...  

There are a plethora of studies investigating agility in soccer; however, studies have rarely presented the reaction time in differentiating age groups in adolescent soccer players. We investigated age differences in reactive agility, speed, and change of direction speed (CODs), in a group of highly trained adolescent soccer players. A total of 75 adolescent male soccer players (aged 14–19 years) were recruited. The players were grouped based on their age to under 15 (U15; n = 27), under 17 (U17; n = 25), and under 19 (U19; n = 23) players. Players were tested for 5 m, 10 m, and 20 m sprint, CODs speed test, Illinois test, and reactive agility test (total and reaction time). Only the reactive agility test with a live tester (RAT live) and RAT live reaction time (RAT live RT) distinguished U19 from both groups, U17 (RAT live, p < 0.01; RAT RT live, p < 0.01) and U15 (RAT live, p < 0.01; RAT RT live, p < 0.01). Groups did not have different times for 5 m sprint, RAT light and RAT RT light, F = 0.472, 2.691, 1.023, respectively, p > 0.05. Moreover, a significantly slower average performance of sprint 20, CODs left and right, and Illinois was also observed in U15 as compared to U17 and U19 (p < 0.05). We can conclude that results in agility tests that include live testers can be a significant factor that differentiates between adolescent soccer players considering their age.


Author(s):  
Javier Raya-González ◽  
Filipe Manuel Clemente ◽  
Daniel Castillo

Although asymmetries in lower limbs have been linked with players’ performance in male soccer players, literature that has been published addressing female soccer is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was twofold: (i) describe the asymmetries of women soccer players during jumping, change-of-direction and range-of-motion tests; and (ii) test possible relationships between asymmetries and injury risk in female soccer players. Sixteen female players (15.5 ± 1.5 years) performed a battery of fitness tests (i.e., jump ability, change-of-direction ability and passive range-of-motion) and muscle mass analysis via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, through which the specific asymmetry index and the related injury risk were calculated. Significant (p < 0.05) lower asymmetries in the change-of-direction test were observed in comparison to those observed in jumping and range-of-motion tests; significant (p < 0.05) lower asymmetries in muscle mass were also reported compared to those found in the change-of-direction and countermovement jump tests. Additionally, increased injury risk for countermovement jump and hip flexion with extended knee range-of-motion (relating to asymmetry values) and for ankle flexion with flexed knee range-of-motion in both legs (relating to reference range-of-motion values), as well as increased individual injury risk values, were observed across all tests. These findings suggest the necessity to implement individual approaches for asymmetry and injury risk analyses.


Author(s):  
Elena Pardos-Mainer ◽  
Chris Bishop ◽  
Oliver Gonzalo-Skok ◽  
Hadi Nobari ◽  
Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽  
...  

The association between asymmetries in jump and change of direction (COD) with physical performance in several sports show inconclusive results. The purposes of this study were to: (1) measure inter-limb asymmetries in three distinct groups in adolescent female soccer players and, (2) to determine the association between inter-limb asymmetries and physical performance in different age groups. Fifty-four players were distributed in three age groups: U-18, U-16 and U-14. All of them performed a series of jumps, sprints and change of direction speed tests. Asymmetries were assessed as the percentage difference between limbs, with the equation: 100/Max value (right and left) * in value (right and left) * −1 + 100. Mean inter-limb asymmetries were 2.91%, 4.82% and 11.6% for 180° COD, single leg hop and single leg countermovement jump tests respectively, but higher percentages of asymmetries were observed in many players individually. U-18 and U-16 showed significant differences on 180° left COD compared to U-14. Effect size (ES): 0.80 and 0.74, respectively; U-18 presented differences on single left leg hop test compared to U-14, ES: −0.72; U-16 also showed differences on 40 m speed compared to U-14, ES 0.87 (All p < 0.05). Jumping and COD physical tests show asymmetries in adolescent female soccer players, but these asymmetries do not interfere with physical performance. The largest asymmetry was observed in the single leg countermovement jump, and no asymmetries between groups were found. Due to the high variability in the direction of asymmetries, it is recommended to consider players’ individual asymmetries for designing specific training programs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 3184-3194
Author(s):  
Sara Majlesi

This study evaluated the effect of PETTLEP video imagery onreactive motor skill test (Total RMST time, sprint time, reactive agility time, passing time, and passing accuracy) among 32 Malaysian high school soccer players (mean age of 15.31±1.83) who were randomly assigned into an experimental group (N:16) and a control group (N:16). A pre-test-post-test design was used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on the high schoolplayers' soccer skill performance. The experimental group received 10-minute PETTLEP video imagery trainingbefore their regular soccer training for eight weeks in addition to their regular soccer training, while thecontrol group only attended their regular soccer training. The data analysis revealed a significant effect of video imagery training on players' performance in the experimental group. The results showed that total RMST time, reactive agility time, passing time, and passing accuracy were statistically different within the experimental group F(15, 154.993)= 14.440, p = < .001, Wilks' Λ = .050 and between groups F(5, 56.00)=379.774, p = < .001, Wilks' Λ = .050 after receiving the training, except for the sprint time which was not significant. The findings of this study provide evidence that eight weeks ofPETTLEPvideo imagery training interventioncan significantly improve soccer players' total RMST time, reactive agility time, passing time, and passing accuracy. These findings could be integrated into training programs by coaches and players in order to improve the performance of different soccer skills among high school players.


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