FAMILIARIZATION AND RELIABILITY OF MULTIPLE SPRINT RUNNING PERFORMANCE INDICES

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate the time-course of the familiarization process associated with a test of multiple sprint running performance and to determine the reliability of various performance indices once familiarization had been established. Eleven physically active men (mean age: 21 ± 2 years) completed 4 multiple sprint running trials (12 X 30 m; repeated at 35-s intervals) with 7 days between trials. All testing was conducted indoors, and times were recorded by twin-beam photocells. Results revealed no apparent learning effects as evidenced by no significant (p > 0.05) between-trial differences in measures of fastest or mean 30-m sprint time. Within-subject test–retest reliability determined over 4 trials by coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed excellent reliability for measures of fastest and mean sprint times (CV range: 1.34–2.24%; ICC range: 0.79–0.94). Pre- and posttrial blood lactate concentrations showed good reliability when judged in context with typical values (CV range: 12.08–18.21%; ICC range: 0.72–0.78). In contrast, and in line with previous research, fatigue data showed much greater variability (CV: 26.43%; ICC: 0.66). The results of this study suggest that high degrees of test–retest reliability can be obtained in many multiple sprint running indices without the need for prior familiarization.