Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the landing error scoring system-real time (LESS-RT) in college level volleyball and basketball players

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is highly prevalent among volleyball and basketball players and has a significant impact on the athlete’s career. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct screenings to detect the risk factors for ACL injury. Landing Error Scoring System - Real Time (LESS-RT) is a tool to evaluate the risk factors that may cause ACL injury on field. Hence, the objective of the study was to find the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of LESS-RT in collegiate volleyball and basketball players. Fifty-two college-level athletes who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study, comprising 26 volleyball players and 26 basketball players from various colleges. Three evaluators with varying levels of experience assessed the athletes’ landing techniques using LESS-RT to measure inter-rater reliability. Meanwhile, the first evaluator conducted three sessions with the subjects, separated by 15-minute breaks, to assess intra-rater reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for intra-rater reliability was 0.918 (95% CI = 0.874–0.94) 9and for the inter-rater reliability was 0.951 (95% CI = 0.923–0.970). Cronbach’s α for internal consistency was > 0.9. Therefore, LESS-RT demonstrated excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability, making it a practical screening tool for ACL injury risk in collegiate volleyball and basketball players. The findings support its use in real-time field assessments and volleyball athletes.