Naslov
Reliability and Factorial Validity of Non-Specific and Tennis-Specific Pre-Planned Agility Tests : Preliminary Analysis

Autori
Sekulić, Damir ; Uljević, Ognjen ; Perić, Mia ; Spasić, Miodrag ; Kondrič, Miran

Izvornik
Journal of human kinetics (1640-5544) 55 (2017), 1; 107-116

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
tennis, agility, sport specific tests

Sažetak
Agility is an important quality in tennis, yet there is an evident lack of studies focussing on the applicability of tennis-specific agility performances and comparing them to equivalent non-specific agility performances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and factorial validity of three tests of pre-planned agility, performed in specific (with a tennis racquet) and non-specific (without a tennis racquet) conditions. The sample consisted of 33 tennis players (13 males and 20 females ; age: 18.3 ± 1.1 years and 18.6 ± 1.3 years ; body height: 185.4 ± 51 cm and 169.3 ± 4.2 cm, 74.0 ± 4.4 kg and 61.2 ± 3.1 kg, respectively). The variables comprised three agility tests: a 20- yard test, a T-test and the Illinois test, all performed in both specific and non-specific conditions. Between- subject and within-subject reliability were found to be high (Cronbach Alpha: 0.93 to 0.98 ; Coefficient of Variation: 3 to 8%), with better withinsubject reliability and stability of the measurement for specific tests. Pearson’s product moment correlations between the non-specific and specific agility performances were high (r ≥0.84), while factor analysis extracted only one significant latent dimension on the basis of the Guttman-Kaiser criterion. The results of the 20- yard test were better when the test was conducted in the specific conditions (t-test = 2.66 ; p < 0.05). For the Illinois test, superior results were recorded in the non-specific conditions (t- test = 2.96 ; p < 0.05), which can be explained by the test duration (about 20 s) and non-specific locomotion forms such as rotational movements. Considering the findings of the present study, when testing tennis- specific pre-planned agility, we suggest using tests of short duration (less than 10 s) and sportspecific types of locomotion.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Pedagogija

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