Change-of-direction (COD) capacity is a key performance metric in football due to the high volume of COD actions occurring during match play. This study aimed to (i) evaluate the repeatability of the 5-0-5 test and (ii) examine the relationship between acceleration and deceleration profiles of the 5-0-5 test and in-season peak performance. Nineteen national-level Portuguese football players competing in the under-23 Portuguese National Championship were analysed. Repeatability analysis was conducted using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Paired-samples t-tests and Pearson correlations (r) were employed to assess within-subject differences and associations between 5-0-5 measures (highest accelerations from a standing start ACCS, deceleration prior to the change in direction (DECCOD), acceleration after decelerating and changing direction ACCCOD) and seasonal peak performances (ACCmax). The in-season peak values were determined from the average of the three maximal values that occurred either in training sessions or in matches. Normalized (relative to seasonal performance) parameters showed good repeatability (ICC = 0. 76–0. 85). The best ACCCOD and DECCOD were not significantly different from ACCmax ACCCOD vs. ACCmax: (5. 04 ± 0. 39 m/s2 vs. 5. 36 ± 0. 54 m/s2; p > 0. 05) and DECmax DECCOD vs. DECmax: (−6. 47 ± 0. 26 m/s2 vs. −6. 35 ± 0. 61 m/s2; p > 0. 05), respectively. The average and best 5-0-5 ACCS performances showed significant, moderate correlations (r = 0. 48; p = 0. 040 and r = 0. 50; p = 0. 028, respectively) with the players’ peak in-season acceleration performance. Therefore, the best ACCS and ACCCOD attempts can reflect values above 90% of ACCmax, while DECCOD reflects values above 100% of DECmax and may assist in monitoring and tailoring training for this capacity on an individual basis.
Pimenta et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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