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The reliability of tests for sport-specific skill amongst elite youth rugby league players
Waldron, Mark Worsfold, Paul R. Twist, Craig Lamb, Kevin L.
Waldron, Mark
Worsfold, Paul R.
Twist, Craig
Lamb, Kevin L.
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EPub Date
Publication Date
2012-08-10
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Abstract
In rugby league, tests of sport-specific skill often involve subjective assessments of performance by observers of varying
qualification. However, the reliability of such subjective assessments has yet to be investigated via appropriate statistical
techniques. Therefore, the aims of the current study were to investigate: (1) the intra-observer reliability of a non-qualified
observer (‘novice’) and (2) the inter-observer reliability of the three observers (two qualified ‘experts’ and one novice
observer) in the assessment of catching, passing and tackling (stages 1 and 2) ability in elite adolescent rugby league players
(age: 14.790.5 years). Players performed each skill element within a simulated practice drill and were assessed in ‘real time’
by the observers according to pre-defined criteria. An overall bias (PB0.05) was revealed between the observers in stage 1 of
catching and stage 1 of passing, the differences being higher for the novice compared to both expert coaches for each stage of
catching and the first stage of passing, and between expert 2 and the novice for stage 2 of tackling. No comparisons met the
pre-determined analytical goal of ‘perfect agreement’, for any of the skill components. Comparisons between the expert
observers did not reach perfect agreement, with the lowest values occurring for both tackling skill stages (60 65%). None of
the tests employed were sufficiently reliable to potentially discern between players of differing ability, which may mean up to
56% of players’ skill being misinterpreted. The credibility of such assessments should be questioned and alternative tests
considered.
Citation
Waldron, M., Worsfold, P., Twist, C. & Lamb, K. (2014). The reliability of tests for sport-specific skill amongst elite youth rugby league players. European Journal of Sports Sciences, 14, S471-S477. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2012.714405
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Journal
European Journal of Sport Science
Research Unit
DOI
10.1080/17461391.2012.714405
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in European Journal of Sport Sciences on 10/08/2012, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17461391.2012.714405
Series/Report no.
ISSN
EISSN
1536-7290