Does an Eye-Hand Coordination Test Have Added Value as Part of Talent Identification in Table Tennis? A Validity and Reproducibility Study

Irene R Faber,Maria W G Nijhuis-Van Der Sanden,Frits G J Oosterveld,Alejandro Lucia

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085657

Irene R Faber, Maria W G Nijhuis-Van Der Sanden + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085657

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study investigated the added value, i.e. discriminative and concurrent validity and reproducibility, of an eye-hand coordination test relevant to table tennis as part of talent identification. Forty-three table tennis players (7–12 years) from national (n = 13), regional (n = 11) and local training centres (n = 19) participated. During the eye-hand coordination test, children needed to throw a ball against a vertical positioned table tennis table with one hand and to catch the ball correctly with the other hand as frequently as possible in 30 seconds. Four different test versions were assessed varying the distance to the table (1 or 2 meter) and using a tennis or table tennis ball. ‘Within session’ reproducibility was estimated for the two attempts of the initial tests and ten youngsters were retested after 4 weeks to estimate ‘between sessions’ reproducibility. Validity analyses using age as covariate showed that players from the national and regional centres scored significantly higher than players from the local centre in all test versions (p<0.05). The tests at 1 meter demonstrated better discriminative ability than those at 2 meter. While all tests but one had a positive significant association with competition outcome, which were corrected for age influences, the version with a table tennis ball at 1 meter showed the highest association (r = 0.54; p = 0.001). Differences between the first and second attempts were comparable for all test versions (between −8 and +7 repetitions) with ICC's ranging from 0.72 to 0.87. The smallest differences were found for the test with a table tennis ball at 1 meter (between −3 and +3 repetitions). Best test version as part of talent identification appears to be the version with a table tennis ball at 1 meter regarding the psychometric characteristics evaluated. Longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate the predictive value of this test.

Highlights

Table tennis is widely judged as one of the fastest sports, and can be described as a fairly difficult task
In total 43 young Dutch table tennis players from the national, regional and local training centres participated in this study
The results of this study confirmed that all test items were able to discriminate local training centre players from players of the regional and national training centres, and we found positive moderate significant associations with competition results for three test versions

Summary

Introduction

Table tennis is widely judged as one of the fastest sports, and can be described as a fairly difficult task It is an open, complex motor task that requires performance in a constantly changing environment under great time pressure [1,2,3]. Highly developed tactical skills, decision-making ability, creativity, concentration, competitiveness, apprehension, selfregulation, and willpower are inseparable to excel in this sport [9,10,11,12]. It is not the only aspect, table tennis appeals significantly on a player’s coordinative ability or motor skills [2,13,14,15]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion