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The reliability and validity of a soccer-specific nonmotorised treadmill simulation (intermittent soccer performance
Jeffrey W F Aldous1, Ibrahim Akubat, Bryna C R Chrismas
11Muscle Cellular and Molecular Physiology (MCMP) and Applied Sport and Exercise Science (ASEP) Research Groups, Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR), Department of Sport Science and Physical Activity, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, United Kingdom; 2Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies, Newman University, Birmingham, United Kingdom; 3Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kent, Kent, United Kingdom; 4Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom; and 5Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, The University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
This study investigated the reliability and validity of a novel nonmotorised treadmill (NMT)-based soccer simulation using a novel activity category called a "variable run" to quantify fatigue during high-speed running. Twelve male University soccer players completed 3 familiarization sessions and 1 peak speed assessment before completing the intermittent soccer performance test (iSPT) twice. The 2 iSPTs were separated by 6-10 days. The total distance, sprint distance, and high-speed running distance (HSD) were 8,968 ± 430 m, 980 ± 75 m and 2,122 ± 140 m, respectively. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found between repeated trials of the iSPT for all physiological and performance variables. Reliability measures between iSPT1 and iSPT2 showed good agreement (coefficient of variation: <4.6%; intraclass correlation coefficient: >0.80). Furthermore, the variable run phase showed HSD significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) in the last 15 minutes (89 ± 6 m) compared with the first 15 minutes (85 ± 7 m), quantifying decrements in high-speed exercise compared with the previous literature. This study validates the iSPT as a NMT-based soccer simulation compared with the previous match-play data and is a reliable tool for assessing and monitoring physiological and performance variables in soccer players. The iSPT could be used in a number of ways including player rehabilitation, understanding the efficacy of nutritional interventions, and also the quantification of environmentally mediated decrements on soccer-specific performance.
