Abstract
ABSTRACT Objectives The International Paralympic Committee requires international federations to develop and implement sport-specific classification guidelines based on scientific evidence. Performance tests are key to developing new evidence-based criteria in football for athletes with vision impairment (VI). Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable test of technical performance for VI football. Methods To assure content and face validity, the Vision Impaired Football Skills (VIFS) test was based on recommendations from experienced players and coaches. To test construct validity, we compared 24 sighted football players split into two groups based on highest-level of performance but matched on experience. To test reliability participants completed the VIFS three times on two separate days. Results Results supported construct validity through detecting differences in performance times between the two groups (p = .004, g = 1.28 95% CI = 0.41 - 2.15). Bias between visits (.54s ± 2.93s; 95% LoA = -5.21– 6.29) and intraclass correlations (.81, 95% CI = .56 - .92) showed between-day agreement and reliability. Within-day reliability was good after a familiarisation trial. Conclusions Results support the suitability for the VIFS test for classification research. Future work should establish feasibility for players with a VI.
Highlights
In Paralympic sport, athletes are grouped into classes with the aim to minimise the impact of the eligible impairment on the outcome of competition (Tweedy & Vanlandewijck, 2011)
The International Paralympic Committee requires international federations to develop and implement sport-specific classification guidelines based on scientific evidence
T this approach does not account for how impairment can impact performance IP differently across sports. It is a requirement of the International Paralympic R Committee (IPC; International Paralympic Committee, 2015) that classification is based on C the understanding of the relationship between a specific eligible impairment and performance S in a specific sport
Summary
In Paralympic sport, athletes are grouped into classes with the aim to minimise the impact of the eligible impairment on the outcome of competition (Tweedy & Vanlandewijck, 2011). In the past, this classification process has been based solely on the nature of the impairment. T this approach does not account for how impairment can impact performance IP differently across sports It is a requirement of the International Paralympic R Committee (IPC; International Paralympic Committee, 2015) that classification is based on C the understanding of the relationship between a specific eligible impairment and performance S in a specific sport.
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