TY - JOUR PY - 2008// TI - The use of sprint tests for assessment of speed qualities of elite Australian rules footballers JO - International journal of sports physiology and performance A1 - Young, Warren A1 - Russell, Andrew A1 - Burge, Peter A1 - Clarke, Alex A1 - Cormack, Stuart A1 - Stewart, Glenn SP - 199 EP - 206 VL - 3 IS - 2 N2 - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between split times within sprint tests over 30 m and 40 m in elite Australian Rules footballers.

METHODS: Data were analyzed from two Australian Football League (AFL) clubs. The first club (n = 35) conducted a 40-m sprint test and recorded split times at 10 m and 20 m. The second club (n = 30) conducted a 30-m sprint test and recorded splits at 10 m and 20 m. Analyses included calculation of Pearson correlations and common variances between all the split times as well as "flying" times (20-40 m for the first club and 20 to 30 m for the second club).

RESULTS: There was a high correlation (r = 0.94) between 10-m time and 20-m time within each club, indicating these measures assessed very similar speed qualities. The correlations between 10-m time and times to 30 m and 40 m decreased, but still produced common variances of 79% and 66% respectively. However when the "flying" times (20-40 m and 20-30 m) were correlated to 10-m time, the common variances decreased substantially to 25% and 42% respectively, indicating uniqueness.

CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that 10-m time is a good reflection of acceleration capabilities and either 20 to 40 m in a 40-m sprint test or 20 to 30 m in a 30-m sprint test can be used to estimate maximum speed capabilities. It was suggested that sprint tests over 30 m or 40 m can be conducted indoors to provide useful information about independent speed qualities in athletes.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1555-0265 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -