Introduction The ability to repeat short maximal efforts (<10 s) with incomplete resting periods (<90 sec) is widely accepted as a key factor in intermittent sports (as tennis). Therefore, this ability is commonly tested to evaluate players` performance (Fernández-Fernández et al. 2012; Gabbet, 2010). The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a new repeated sprint ability (RSA) test for young tennis players. Methods: To evaluate the reliability of the test, five participants performed 3 testing sessions with 48 hours between them. The RSA test consisted on six repetitions of 20m including three changes of directions (two of 180 degrees and one of 90 degrees), in a 20s cycle. The best time, total time and fatigue index were recorded. Samples of lactate pre and post-test (1, 3 and 5 minutes after concluding the test) were collected, and the intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC) and the coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated. Furthermore, participants performed a 20m linear speed test to establish relationships with the RSAtest. Results: Analysis of ICC showed a very high reliability for the RSA total time (0.99) and RSA best time (0.94) but not for the fatigue index (0.72). The CV was very small for the RSA total time (1,01%) but bigger for the fatigue index (8,75%). Furthermore Pearson`s correlation showed high relationships between linear speed (20m) and RSA total time (0.914) and between RSA best time and all the variables measured. Nevertheless the fatigue index only showed medium correlation (0.64) with the measure of lactate 5`post. Discussion: Results of ICC agree other studies which have shown the reliability of a specific test of repeated sprint ability (Gabbet, 2010; Wilkinson et al. 2010). The high ICC and low CV of the RSA total obtained with the data of the three sessions performing the RSA test indicate that this is a very reliable test, and therefore it could be a good tool to check improvements in the ability of tennis players to repeat short maximal efforts with brief resting periods.
© Copyright 2014 19th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam, 2. - 5. July 2014. Julkaistu Tekijä VU University Amsterdam. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator