Reliability, Responsiveness, and Construct Validity of the V-cut Test in Football Players

The present study aimed to assess the reliability, responsiveness, and age-related and competitive level differences of a 25-m change of direction maneuver (V-cut test) in football players. Two-hundred and eighty-nine male football players performed the V-cut test. Thirty-four players underwent the test on two occasions, separated by 5-7 days, to assess test-retest reliability. Eighty-six young players performed the V-cut test three times, separated by 12 weeks, to analyze responsiveness. Finally, 89 young players of different ages (U-15 to U-20) and 80 adult players of different competitive levels performed the V-cut test several times throughout the season to examine between-group differences. Reliability analysis showed a high intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.94 and a low coefficient of variation of 0.8%. The responsiveness was dependent on maturity status, showing a positive response in pre-peak height velocity (short-term p<0.05) or post-peak height velocity (short- and long-term p<0.05) players, although the peak height velocity group did not exceed the minimal detectable change. Age-related (effect size [ES]: 0.93-5.68) and competitive-level difference (ES: 0.57-1.96) analyses reported better V-cut test performance as age and competitive-level increased in football players. The V-cut test is reliable for assessing change of direction ability and can be used to monitor change of direction ability depending on maturity, allowing it to differentiate between players of different ages and levels.