Inter-methodological quantification of the target change for performance test outcomes relevant to elite female soccer players

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Valid and informed interpretations of changes in physical performance test data are important within athletic development programmes. At present, there is a lack of consensus regarding a suitable method for deeming whether a change in physical performance is practically relevant or not.

Methods

We compared true population variance in mean test scores between those derived from evidence synthesis of observational studies to those derived from practioner opinion (n = 30), and to those derived from a measurement error (minimal detectable change) quantification (n = 140). All these methods can help to obtain ‘target’ change score values for performance variables.

Results

We found that the conventional ‘blanket’ target change of 0.2 (between-subjects SD) systematically underestimated practically relevant and more informed changes derived for 5-m sprinting, 30-m sprinting, CMJ, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (IR1) tests in elite female soccer players.

Conclusions

For the first time in the field of sport and exercise sciences, we have illustrated the use of a principled approach for comparing different methods for the definition of changes in physical performance test variables that are practically relevant. Our between-method comparison approach provides preliminary guidance for arriving at target change values that may be useful for research purposes and tracking of individual female soccer player’s physical performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Fitness testing
• football
• practically relevant change
• player tracking
• physical performance

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Disclosure

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No funding is associated with this study.