THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE, VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF SOCCER-SPECIFIC FIELD TESTS FOR ASSESSING AEROBIC FITNESS IN AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYERS.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological responses, validity and reliability of the specific field tests in amateur soccer players. Thirteen male amateur soccer players of university level (19-21 years old) were participated in this study. All participants executed the laboratory test on treadmill and determining maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) with the gas analyzer device, The field tests consisted of the multistage fitness test (The MFT), The yo-yo intermittent endurance test level 1 (The Yo-Yo IE 1), the yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (The Yo-Yo IR1) and the Hoff test in four separate periods with a one day interval. HR and blood lactate were record at the end of each field tests. All participants executed the field tests in two occasions. Statistical analysis consisted mean, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. An alpha level of 0.05 was used on all statistical tests.
Results showed that HR of the four field tests were 179.5-184.9 bpm (89.8–92.7%HRmax) and blood lactate concentration in the end of tests were 7.5-7.8 mmol/l. The MFT, the Yo-Yo IE1 and the Yo-Yo IR1 performance were significantly related to VO2max in the laboratory test (r =0.76, 0.79 and 0.85 respectively; P<0.01) and the Hoff test performance were significantly related to VO2max (r =0.53; P<0.05). In addition, the result showed that all field tests were high test-retest reliability (r= 0.84-0.95; P<0.01)
These findings suggest that soccer specific field tests in this study are suitable for determining aerobic fitness in amateur soccer players, the Yo-Yo IR1 may be considered as a valid soccer specific field test for the assessment of aerobic in amateur soccer players more than the Yo-Yo IE1, the MFT and the Hoff test respectively.
(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2015; 15(2) : 19-32)