Performance and metabolic demand of a new repeated-sprint ability test in basketball players: does the number of changes of direction matter?

This study compared two repeated-sprint ability tests in basketball players. Both tests included 10×30-m sprints, with the difference that the previously validated test (RSA2COD) featured two changes of direction (COD) per sprint, while the experimental test (RSA5COD) featured five CODs per sprint. Tests` performances and metabolic demands were specifically assessed in 20 basketball players. Firstly, RSA5COD test-retest reliability was investigated. Then RSA2COD, RSA5COD sprint times, peak speeds, oxygen uptake (VO2) and post-test blood lactate concentration [La] were measured. RSA5COD results showed to be reliable. RSA2COD performance resulted better than the RSA5COD version (P<0.01), with shorter sprint times and higher peak speeds. Over sprints, the tests did not differ from each other in terms of VO2 (P>0.05). Over whole bout, the RSA2COD was more demanding than the RSA5COD, considering overall metabolic power requirement (i.e., VO2-driven+[La]-driven components). Given that 1) RSA5COD mimics real game-play as sprint distance and action change frequency/direction and 2) has the same metabolic expenditure per task completion as metabolic cost, RSA5COD is a valuable option for players and coaches for training basketball-specific agility and assessing bioenergetic demands.