Evaluation of a Roller Skating Performance Test

Ivan Radman

1,2

, Domagoj Primuzak

3,4

, Viktoria Padovan

, Vjekoslav Cigrovski

Đurđica Ivankovic

and Lana Ruzic

School of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Horvacanski zavoj 15, Zagreb, Croatia

Institute of Sport Science, University of Vienna, Auf der Schmelz 6, Vienna, Austria

Elementary School Vladimir Nazor, Jozefinska cesta 85, Duga Resa, Croatia

Inline Hockey Club Karlovac, Plitvicka 7, Karlovac, Croatia

Croatian Roller Skating Association, Fra Grabovca 1, Zagreb, Croatia

Keywords: Inline Skating, Rollerblading, Technique, Skill Evaluation, Reliability, Validity.

Abstract: The study aimed to evaluate recently developed roller skating performance test. Groups of recreational and

competitive skaters first self-assessed their roller skating skill and then repeated the test in four separate

occasions. No significant changes in performance time were evident between any of four trials. The test had

low mean within-individual variation and high inter-sessions correlation. In addition, it discriminated

skating performances of competitive and recreational skaters. Besides, moderate correlations were recorded

between skater’s self-rating and achieved test results. Finally, results suggest that evaluated test is reliable,

valid and sufficiently sensitive to be applied in amateur roller skating practice.

1 OBJECTIVES

Despite the mass popularity of roller (or “inline”)

skating sports, the reproducible methods for testing

specific skill in roller skating are still lacking.

Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the

retest reliability and discriminant validity of a newly

developed roller skating performance test.

2 METHODS

Figure 1: Layout of the roller skating performance test

Note: CIRC

360º

= circles 360 degrees; P-OFF = push-off

technique; PAR-SL = parallel slalom technique; FREE =

free technique.

Based on the skating experience, 42 amateur skaters

(26 female and 16 male; age 21.5±8.7 years) were

allocated in either competitive or recreational group.

The subjects completed performance test 4 times

with a passive pause of 45 minutes between the

tests. Before testing, the subjects classified their

roller skating skill on the scale ranging from 1 to 10.

Test roller skating performance was judged based on

time to complete an 83 m course and the ability to

combine typical skating techniques such as start,

circling and S-turning, push-off technique,

acceleration, direction changes, and parallel

technique. In particular, the testing course

encompassed two tasks involving skating in 360°

circles around cones, three 11 m long accelerations

using the push-off technique and each of those

followed by parallel skating through the four cones

positioned for slalom. As illustrated in Figure 1, the

aim was to skate the skating line linking the start

zone and finish line, as fast as possible. The

performance time was measured by an electronic

system using light barriers for speed-measurement

(Newtest Powertimer, Finland, EU). The main

instructions for subjects were (i) to skate as fast as

possible, following the skating course; (ii) when

skating circles, to complete 360° of the circle with

all wheels on the surface; (iii) when skating slalom,

not to cut over the cones but to skate around them.

Once in ready position, subjects were allowed to

start at self-selected time. The whole procedure was

led and controlled by two examiners. Please

Radman, I., Primuzak, D., Padovan, V., Cigrovski, V., Ivankovic, Ä

R. and Ruzic, L.

Evaluation of a Roller Skating Performance Test.

In Extended Abstracts (icSPORTS 2016), pages 3-4

remember that all the papers must be in English and

without orthographic errors.

For the purpose of data analysis, software

package Statistica for Windows 12.0 was used.

Systematic bias, within-individual variation and re-

test correlation were applied to evaluate reliability of

the subsequent tests. Results were reported as means

and standard deviations and the p<0.05 was set as

the criteria for reaching statistical significance. In

addition, 95% confidence intervals were reported for

all values representing the components of reliability.

The practical usefulness of the test was assessed by

comparing typical errors of subsequent pairs of tests

to the smallest worthwhile change (given by

standard deviation × 0.2) in performance time across

the tests. Differences in performance times among

groups were compared by one-way ANOVA while

Spearman’s correlation coefficients (ρ) were applied

to determine relations between subjects’ self-

evaluation and test results for each trial.

3 RESULTS

The mean performance time during 4 repeated tests

ranged between 22.5±2.3 s and 22.9±2.4 s in

competitive group, and between 30.3±7.8 s and

30.5±8.4 s in recreational group. No significant

changes in performance time were found among 4

subsequent tests neither in competitive nor in

recreational skaters (-1.7% [95% CI: -5.8–2.6%] –

2.2% [95% CI: 0.0–4.5%]). Evaluated test had low

mean within-individual variation (1.6% [95% CI:

1.2–2.4%] – 2.7% [95% CI: 2.1–4.0%]) and high

inter-sessions correlation (ICC = 0.97 [95% CI:

0.92–0.99] – 0.99 [95% CI: 0.98–1.00]). For each

pair of subsequent tests, the mean typical error was

lower (0.10 [95% CI: 0.08–0.15] – 0.25 [95% CI:

0.18–0.47]) than the smallest worthwhile change

(0.39 – 1.86). In addition, the test positively

discriminated roller skating performances of

competitive and recreational skaters (24.4–26.4%;

F=10.0–11.2; all p<0.01). Besides, moderate

correlation (ρ=0.80–0.82; all p<0.01) were recorded

between skater’s self-rating and achieved test

results.

4 DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSIONS

This study first evaluated the reliability of roller

skating performances across four subsequent tests

and second, it assessed the discriminative ability of

the performance tests with respect to roller skaters’

proficiency level. The mean values of the ICCs

above 0.70 and CV bellow 5% for the present roller

skating test are consistent with the reliability data of

comparable change-of-direction tests (Wilkinson et

al., 2009; Lockie et al., 2013). Obtained results

suggest a high standard of reliability for evaluated

performance test. In addition, the comparison of

observed measurement errors and smallest important

changes demonstrated a “good” grade of the test’s

usefulness according to the rating proposed by

Hopkins (2004). Second analysis indicated a shorter

time needed for competitive level skaters to

complete the test in comparison to recreational level

skaters, as well as moderate associations of skaters’

self-ratings with the performance test outcomes. In

line with previous research, where advanced skaters

overperformed intermediate level skaters (Parrington

et al., 2013), present results also confirmed

discriminative validity of this roller skating test.

In conclusion, results have shown that evaluated

performance test is reliable and valid method for

testing roller skating performance in amateur

skaters. Moreover, it proved to be sensitive for

tracking changes in performance of amateur level

roller skaters.

REFERENCES

Hopkins, W. G., 2004. How to interpret changes in an

athletic performance test. Sportscience 8, 1–7.

Lockie, R. G., Schultz, A. B., Callaghan, S.J., Jeffriess,

M.D., Berry, S.P., 2013. Reliability and validity of a

new test of change-of-direction speed for field-based

sports: the change-of-direction and acceleration test

(CODAT). Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

12(1), 88–96.

Parrington, L., Grimshaw, P., Buttfield, A., Consultancy,

B.S. (2013). It’s about how well you use it: skating

stride in novice, intermediate and advanced inline

skaters. 31st International Conference on

Biomechanics in Sports, July 07–11, Taipei-Taiwan,

Proceedings book. 1–5.

Wilkinson, M., Leedale-Brown, D., Winter, E. M., 2009.

Validity of a squash-specific test of change-of-

direction speed. International Journal of Sports

Physiology and Performance 4(2), 176–185.

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