The relationship between the performance of soccer players on the curved sprint test, repeated sprint test, and change-of-direction speed test

Abstract

The curved sprint test is the most commonly used test in team sports. From a practical point of view, it would be interesting to know to what extent it is related to a direct sprint and a sprint involving changes in direction. This study investigated the relationship between the times taken by soccer players in the curved sprint test, repeated sprint test involving changes in direction, and change-of-direction speed test. Two age groups of soccer players U15 and U17 (n = 22) took the curved sprint test, the repeated straight sprint test, and the repeated straight sprint test involving changes in direction. The total time taken in the curved sprint test did not differ significantly from the total time taken in the repeated straight sprint test (46.80 ± 1.85 s and 34.51 ± 1.66 s, respectively; T = 120). The total time taken in the curved sprint test was not significantly different from the total time taken in the repeated straight sprint test involving changes in direction (46.80 ± 1.85 s and 82.36 ± 4.47 s, respectively; T = 115). There was no significant correlation between the total times taken in the curved sprint test (CST) and the repeated sprint test involving changes in direction (RSCD) (r = 0.180). There was also no significant correlation between the total times taken in the curved sprint test (CST) and the repeated straight sprint test (RSST) (r = 0.301). The non-significant relationship between these abilities implies that they are independent of each other and may have to be tested and trained complementarily.