The Reliability and Validity of the Modified Butterfly Agility Test

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Athletic Performance Assessment

Background:

• No definitive criteria exist for return-to-sport decisions.
• The Butterfly Agility Test (BAT) is valid and reliable but requires significant space and hasn't been validated in athletes.
• A modified version (mBAT) was developed to address these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the reliability of the modified Butterfly Agility Test (mBAT) and optimal practice trials.
• To assess the preliminary validity of the mBAT against the Y-Balance Test (YBT).
• To examine the relationship between mBAT performance and player position in soccer athletes.

Main Methods:

• A multi-phase reliability and validity study was conducted.
• Phase I: Assessed mBAT test-retest and inter-rater reliability in 25 healthy adults.
• Phase II: Assessed mBAT and YBT performance in 45 competitive soccer athletes, analyzing relationships with player position.

Main Results:

• The mBAT demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC = 0.92-1.00).
• Female collegiate athletes outperformed male high-school athletes on the mBAT.
• No significant correlations were found between mBAT/YBT performance and player position.

Conclusions:

• The mBAT is a reliable tool for assessing physical performance in soccer athletes.
• Three practice trials are recommended for optimal mBAT reliability.
• While preliminary, the mBAT shows potential for clinicians and coaches, but further validation is needed for clinical decision-making.