Shuttle versus straight repeated-sprint ability tests and their relationship to anthropometrics and explosive muscular performance in elite handball players

BACKGROUND: This study assessed inter-relationships between shuttle and straight repeated-sprint ability tests and the relationship of each measure to anthropometric and explosive lower limb performance data in elite handball players. METHODS: Twenty-two elite male handball players (18.9 +/- 0.2 years; body mass: 83.3 +/- 1.1kg, height: 1.79 +/- 2.30 m. body fat: 12.8 +/- 0.2%) completed tests that included a lower limb force-velocity test of peak power (W-peak). jumping ability (squat and counter-movement jumps; SJ, CMJ), I repetition maximum (1-RM) half back squat, average sprint velocity over 5 m (V-5 m), peak velocity between 25-30 in (V-max), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), and anthropometric determinations of cross-sectional areas and muscle volumes for leg and thigh muscles. Data were compared with performance on two repeated sprint tests; the straight test (6 x 30 m [RSA(30)]) and the intermittent test (6x [2/15 m] shuttle sprints [RSA(15)]). RESULTS: V-5 in, 1-RM, and thigh and leg muscle cross-sectional areas and volumes showed relevant relationships to the shuttle RSA test (r(2)>= 0.5). The Yo-Yo IR1 explained the largest percentage of variance in RSA(15) total time (60%), and V-5 in also explained 56% of the variance in RSA(15) total time. RSA(15)% fatigue was only related to 1-RM (explained variance: 58%). and the RSA 30 test showed no useful correlations with any of the investigated predictors. Multiple-regression analyses using all physical tests explained 91% of the variance in RSA(15) total time (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The volume of the leg muscles seems important to power production and repeated sprints over distances of 15 m or less. RSA(15) is related to muscular power, maximal strength, speed and endurance performance; however, the straight repeated sprint ability test is not, and thus does not seem relevant for the testing of handball players.