Reliability, Validity and Minimal Detectable Change of a New Multi-Change of Directionagility Test for Soccer Players

Abstract

This study examined the test-retest reliability, validity and external responsiveness of a new multi-change of direction agility test (NMAT) designed for soccer players. Forty-four Tunisian soccer players were recruited and were divided into two groups according to their playing levels (International, n = 21 and National, n = 23). Following familiarization, athletes performed squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), running speed test (5 m and 20 m), 15-m agility run (Agility-15 m), 15-m ball dribbling (Ball-15 m), and NMAT and ball dribbling NMAT (Ball-NMAT) in 2 sessions, 48 h apart. The intraclass correlation coefficient and SEM values were .96 (CI 95%: .94 -.98) and .05 seconds for NMAT and .97 (CI 95%: .94 -.98) and .09 seconds for Ball-NMAT, respectively. The smallest worthwhile changes were greater than their SEM for both NMAT and Ball-NMAT. The MDC 95 values were .15 seconds and .25 seconds for NMAT and Ball-NMAT, respectively. Both NMAT and Ball-NMAT were respectively correlated with Agility-15 m (r = .78; p < .001) and Ball-15 m (r = .81; p < .001). Similarly, significant correlations were observed between both NMAT and Ball-NMAT and leg power and straight sprint (.01 < p < .001). International-level soccer players were better than national-level in all tests including NMAT and Ball-NMAT (.01 < p < .001). The areas under their receiver operator characteristics curve were > .7 (.85; CI 95%: .71 -.94 and .91; CI 95%: .78 -.97 for NMAT and Ball-NMAT, respectively). These results indicated that NMAT provides excellent absolute and relative reliabilities. The NMAT can distinguish soccer athletes of different competitive levels. Thus, the NMAT may be suitable for field assessment of specific agility of soccer players.

Validity and reliability of a repeated multi-changes of direction agility test in senior soccer players

“…Given the importance of the repeated change of direction ability in soccer, it is important to apply specific tests which really measured this skill in a player’s assessment. Currently, S-RSA ( Bangsbo, 1994 ) and NMAT ( Brahim, Bougatfa & Amri, 2013 ) are commonly used to assess the change of direction in soccer players. However, NMAT only assesses one sprint, whilst players need to do it multiple times during the match ( Chaouachi et al, 2012 ).…”

“…Nevertheless, S-RSA tests (also known as the Bangsbo test) have been set up with nonspecific changes of direction than those performing in the match and do not include other actions ( e.g ., run backwards or sideways) ( Bloomfield, Polman & O’Donoghue, 2007 ). In this sense, a new Multi-Change of Direction Agility test (NMAT) has been proposed as a soccer-specific field test since it allows assessing players’ change of direction as it occurs in a match ( Brahim, Bougatfa & Amri, 2013 ). Unlike the S-RSA and RSA, the NMAT allows for a specific evaluation of the soccer player since jump, acceleration, braking, and lateral and back displacement are included in the test.…”

Validity of motor tests used in sports games

“…Při výběru adekvátního testu může být trenérům překážkou vysoký počet existujících reaktivních a nereaktivních testových protokolů, které jsou v současné době široce využívány a ověřeny jako validní a reliabilní ("Illionois, L-Run, Pro-Agility, T-test a 505") (Stewart, Turner & Miller, 2014). Navíc stále vznikají nové testové protokoly agility, které se taktéž ukazují jako validní a reliabilní (Bidaurrazaga-Letona et al, 2015;Brahim, Bougatfa & Amri, 2013;Fessi et al, 2016;Kutlu, Yapici, Yoncalik, & Çelik, 2012). Testové protokoly by tak měly být aplikovány na základě rozboru nároků herního výkonu, které by měl daný test replikovat (Stewart et al, 2014) Brown (2012) ověřoval ve své studii "Lane agility test", který se využívá při draftu hráčů basketbalu do NBA.…”

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“…A test battery composed of 9 tests used by German clubs was evaluated by Lottermann et al (2003) and Höner and Roth (2010), where they found that the reliability of the exercise is as follows: dribbling r = 0.49, which is a very low value and similar results were obtained by Höner et al (2009) who measured the reliability of the dribbling test in the range of 2004-2008 and its value varied and changed during these 4 years at intervals r = 0.42 -0.51. Brahim, Bougatfa & Amri (2013) evaluated the players in the Ball-NMAT (New Multi-Change Direction Agility Test) test by Mujika et al (2009) using the ICC, and which also evaluated CI (Stability Interval) and SEM (Standard Measurement Error). The results of these authors showed a high correlation r = 0.97, CI = 0.94 -0.98 and SEM had a value of 0.09.…”