The SpeedCourt: Reliability, Usefulness, and Validity of a New Method to Determine Change-of-Direction Speed

PURPOSE: To determine the reliability, usefulness, and validity of 3 different change-of-direction tests on a SpeedCourt (SC(CODT)) in team-sport players. METHODS: For reliability and usefulness, 30 players (16 female and 14 male; age 19 ± 3 y, height 169 ± 30 cm, body mass 70 ± 11 kg) performed 3 SC(CODT)s differing in duration (7-45 s) on 3 occasions 1 wk apart. The total sprint times (TT) and time to change direction (TCD) were analyzed for each SC(CODT). For validity, 14 players performed the Illinois Agility Test (IAT) and 505 test on a separate occasion. RESULTS: TT for all SC(CODT)s is reliable (ICC > .79, CV .71, P .54, P .65 and a CV >5%. CONCLUSIONS: All SC(CODT)s are reliable, useful, and valid to detect moderate performance changes regarding TT, with limited reliability for TCD. The quality of assessment improves when players are well familiarized with the SC(CODT).