The dribbling agility test as a potential tool for evaluating the dribbling skill in young soccer players

ABSTRACT

The present study examined the construct validity and reliability of a new dribbling agility test (DAT) that incorporates reactive agility and multiple change of direction. To check its’ validity, (a) DAT was performed by four groups (under 10, under 12, under 14 and under 16 yrs) of young soccer players (n = 125 in each group) and (b) a regression analysis was conducted to define the best DAT predictors. The reliability of DAT was assessed with repeated measurements. This test can differentiate the dribbling skill between groups (p < 0.01). Furthermore, 68% of the observed variance in DAT was explained by zigzag dribbling test, Illinois agility test, reaction time and running speed. The test-retest reliability was high in all groups (ICC = 0.77 – 0.90, p < 0.01). It was concluded that DAT can be a potential tool to evaluate the dribbling performance in young soccer players.

KEYWORDS:

• Dribbling reactive agility
• structural validity
• reliability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.