Absolute and relative reliability of SCRuM test battery components assembled for schoolboy rugby players playing competitive rugby in low-resource settings: A pragmatic in-season test-retest approach

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2021/v33i1a12220

Abstract

Background: Schoolboy rugby is a popular sport which forms the bedrock of rugby development in many African countries, including Zimbabwe. With burgeoning talent identification programmes, the development of multi-dimensional, logically- validated, and reliable test batteries is essential to inform the objective selection of potentially talented young rugby athletes.

Objectives: This study sought evidence on the absolute and relative test-retest reliability of the component test items in the newly-assembled SCRuM test battery.

Methods: Utilising a pragmatic test-retest experimental design, a sample of 41 Under-19 schoolboy players playing competitive rugby in the elite Super Eight Schools Rugby League in Harare, Zimbabwe, participated in the study.

Results: Physiological and game-specific skills tests which showed good to excellent relative reliability and acceptable absolute reliability, included: 20 m and 40 m speed, L-run, Vertical Jump (VJ), 60 s Push-Up, 2 kg Medicine Ball Chest Throw test (2 kg MBCT), Wall Sit Leg Strength test (WSLS), Repeated High Intensity Exercise test (RHIE), One Repetition Maximum Back Squat (1-RM BS) and Bench Press tests (1-RM BP), Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (Yo-Yo IRT L1), Tackling Proficiency test, Passing Ability Skill test and Running and Catching Ability skill test.

Conclusion: All these tests are reliable and warrant inclusion in the SCRuM test battery for possible profiling of U19 schoolboy rugby players during the ‘in-season’ phase provided there is adequate participant familiarisation and test standardisation. The test-retest ICCs and measurement errors are generalisable to other young athletes in this population, making the tests useful for the evaluation of training and developmental effects of the measured constructs.

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Published

2021-12-13

How to Cite

Chiwaridzo, M., Tadyanemhandu , C. ., Mkumbuzi, N. ., Dambi , J. M., Ferguson , G. D. ., & Smits-Engelsman , B. . (2021). Absolute and relative reliability of SCRuM test battery components assembled for schoolboy rugby players playing competitive rugby in low-resource settings: A pragmatic in-season test-retest approach. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2021/v33i1a12220

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Articles