Abstract
Introduction: An athlete’s ability to change direction is important for performance in wheelchair basketball. It is therefore essential that evaluations of change of direction performance are reliable and valid. This study assessed the reliability and construct validity of the L-change of direction test (L-COD) for male elite wheelchair basketball athletes.
Methods: Sixteen athletes from the male Australian national wheelchair basketball squad were recruited. Athletes were grouped according to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation disability classification system (scale: 1.0-4.5) as low- (≤ 2.5, more severe impairments, n = 6) and high- (≥ 3.0, less severe impairments, n = 10) point athletes. The L-COD test was assessed for total time (via electronic timing gates) to complete a standardised series of rapid changes of direction, accelerations, and decelerations. Inter-trial reliability was assessed via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), and typical error (TE). Construct validity was assessed by first determining each athlete’s fastest trial, then 1) comparing between low- (class ≤ 2.5, n = 6) and high-point (class ≥ 3.0, n = 10) athletes using an independent samples t-test, and 2) assessing the relationship between athlete classification and timed L-COD performance using Spearman’s rank.
Results:
Excellent reliability was found between the two trials (ICC = 0.96, CV = 1.9%, TE = 0.18 s). When comparing classification groups, high-point athletes (8.55 ± 0.40 s) completed the L-COD test 8.3% faster than low-point athletes (9.93 ± 0.75 s) (p < 0.001, d = 2.51). A very strong inverse correlation was found between classification (1.0-4.5) and L-COD performance time (r = -0.77).
Discussion:
The L-COD test showed excellent reliability between two trials performed during a single testing session. This test was also able to differentiate the performance of high- from low- point athletes and determined a very strong relationship between classification and timed COD performance, suggesting appropriate construct validity for this purpose. This reflects the more severe impairments of low-point athletes in this cohort, which have all sustained spinal cord injuries resulting in impaired trunk control, which affects their ability to accelerate and perform change of direction movements. Results from this study support the use of the L-COD test for performance testing in elite wheelchair basketball populations.
Impact/Application to the field:
The L-COD test demonstrated excellent inter-trial reliability and construct validity for elite male wheelchair basketball athletes and can therefore be implemented into performance testing batteries. Results from this test could be used for talent identification and to periodically monitor the change of direction performance in elite wheelchair basketball athletes. Additionally, coaches can use the mean of each group’s timed results from this study as reference points for high- (8.55 ± 0.40 s) and low- (9.93 ± 0.75 s) point athletes in male elite wheelchair basketball programs.
Declaration:
My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this abstract.