Development and Validation of a Running Drill Test Battery to Predict 5 m and 20 m Sprint Performance

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and predictive validity of specific athletic running drills: A-skip, B-skip, bounding step, and jumps, in relation to sprint performance over 5 m and 20 m distances. Sixty-three young males (mean age: 21.3 ± 2.1 years; body height: 183 ± 6.5 cm; body weight: 77 ± 9.3 kg) were enrolled in the study. Running drill performance was recorded on an athletics track using high-speed cameras and evaluated based on predefined criteria and a scoring system. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficients of variation (CV). Predictive validity was determined via Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression analyses. The results indicated good to excellent inter-rater reliability for A-skip (ICC = 0.897) and jumps (ICC = 0.9), while B-skip and bounding step showed good reliability (ICC = 0.808 and 0.874, respectively). The 20 m sprint demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC = 0.969, CV = 2.07%), while the 5 m sprint had good reliability (ICC = 0.863, CV = 3.58%). B-skip emerged as the strongest predictor for both sprint distances, with significant negative associations (5 m: β = -0.531, p < 0.01; 20 m: β = -0.322, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that specific drills, particularly B-skip, demonstrate high inter-rater reliability and moderate predictive validity as indicators of short-sprint performance, with B-skip showing the strongest association. Coaches and practitioners can use these drills to enhance training programs to improve acceleration and speed over short distances.