Reliability and usefulness of the reaction speed test in young female volleyball players

Goran Kuvačić,Karla Dolo,Zoran Grgantov

doi:10.16926/par.2022.10.09

Abstract

Reaction speed represents a crucial ability to achieve a high-performance level in volleyball. A reliable computerized test for assessing reaction speed cannot simulate the dynamic environment of the volleyball game. Therefore, tests involving the activation of large muscle groups are needed. This study aimed to determine the reliability of young volleyball players' reaction speed ability using the Stopping the rolling ball test (SRB). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) also expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV%), smallest worthwhile change (SWC), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated. Paired t-test revealed no significant differences between test and re-test for first (t = -0.09, p = 0.92), mean of three (t = -0.37, p = 0.71), and best of three (t = -0.02, p = 0.98) trials. The ICC values showed poor relative reliability when the first trial was observed, while for the mean and best of three trials, reliability was consistently very high (excellent). The absolute reliability parameters (within-individual variation) showed large variations ranging from 5% to almost 10% and greater SEM (12.63 cm) for first trial when compared to other variables. The SEM was higher than SWC for all variables when the small differences (i.e., 0.2 multiplied by between-participants SD) were considered. This test showed a high level of absolute and relative reliability and usefulness, which means that the SRB test is an excellent indicator of reaction speed in young volleyball players.

Highlights

Reaction speed is a player's ability to make decisions and act
Performance responses during the test and retest of the Stopping the rolling ball test (SRB) are presented in table 1
High individual consistency in results between two testing occasions is observed for a mean of three trials and the best of three trials, while low consistency is found in the first trial of the SRB test

Summary

Introduction

Reaction speed is a player's ability to make decisions and act. It can be divided into two components. First is "reaction time" which is the time between exposure to a stimulus (acoustic, visual, tactile, kinesthetic) and the first muscular reaction. The second component is "movement time” that can be defined as a duration of a move [1,2]. Volleyball players train in a dynamic environment where they require in a short time great adaptation capacity and need to have an adequate level of cognitive skill, motor, and coordination capacities. Middle blockers task is to identify opponent's intention where the reaction speed comes to the high manifestation [3,4]

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