| This study examined the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the Repeat Ice Skating Test (RIST). This was an on-ice field anaerobic test that measured average peak power. It was validated with 3 anaerobic lab tests: Vertical Jump, Margaria-Kalamen Stair test, and the Wingate cycle ergometer test. The study's subjects were 14 males aged 11-12 on a Peewee "A" level ice hockey team in the Thunder Bay area. Results revealed that the RIST was a reliable test at measuring average peak power in watts (r = .99) and watts per kilogram (r = .98). The RIST was also a valid test when correlated with the 3 anaerobic lab tests for measuring peak power in watts: Vertical Jump (r = .86), Margaria-Kalamen Stair test (r = .71) and Wingate cycle ergometer test (r = .85). These correlations were much lower for watts per kilogram (w/kg): Vertical Jump (r = .50), Margaria-Kalamen Stair test (r = .40) and Wingate cycle ergometer test (r = .18). The RIST will be useful to coaches and teams for various reasons, including monitoring anaerobic power and velocity of players over a season, determining strengths and weaknesses of players and if training programs are required. The test may help as an evaluation tool for picking players on a team, may determine which players get more ice time, test the players work effort over various shifts of time, be used as a comparison measure for other anaerobic tests, and the continued use of the test will also help develop normative data. In summary, it is of the author's opinion that this test will save time, money, will not require any specific equipment, and is a sport-specific on-ice test that can be administered during a regular hockey practice. |
