An integrative test of agility, speed and skill in soccer: Effects of exercise

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 45 min of soccer-specific exercise in the reactive motor skills test (RMST); a novel test which measures sprint, passing and reactive agility (RAT) performance.DesignA repeated-measures design was used to collect performance data.MethodsForty-two high-level amateur male soccer players (age 18.5 ± 3.5 years) were recruited. Participants were familiarised with the RMST prior to initial testing. Participants undertook 10 repetitions of the RMST before and after 45 min of soccer-specific exercise using the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test. Eighteen of these participants repeated the RMST for test re-test reliability determination. Paired t-tests and effect size statistics were used to determine the effect of 45 min of intermittent exercise on RMST performance. Reliability was assessed using the standard error of measurement.ResultsThe exercise protocol resulted in moderate decreases of sprint (3.0 ± 0.9%, mean ± SD; 1.030 ± 0.09 ES ± 90% Confidence Intervals; p < 0.00001) and RAT performance (1.5 ± 1.1%; 1.015 ± 0.011; p < 0.05), but improved passing task time (−2.7 ± 1.2%; 0.973 ± 0.012; p < 0.001) and passing accuracy (3.6 ± 3.3%; 1.036 ± 0.33). Change in total test time was trivial. The test-retest coefficient of variation for the test was 2.4 ± 0.8%.ConclusionsSoccer-specific exercise decreased sprint and reactive agility performance but improved technical skill performance on a novel, integrative and reliable test of soccer skill performance. Overall RMST performance time was largely unchanged.