Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2858-1150
Authors
Author Affiliations
Oliver Gonzalo-Skok
1
Communication and Education, Universidad Loyola Andalucia—Campus de
Sevilla (Ringgold ID: RIN670438), Seville, Spain
Oliver Gonzalo-Skok was supported by a Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral
fellowship (RYC2023-045305-I) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the
FSE+given by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the State Research
Agency (AEI) and the European Union.
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Abstract
The present study aimed to assess the reliability, responsiveness, and
age-related and competitive level differences of a 25-m change of direction
maneuver (V-cut test) in football players. Two-hundred and eighty-nine male
football players performed the V-cut test. Thirty-four players underwent the
test on two occasions, separated by 5–7 days, to assess test–retest reliability.
Eighty-six young players performed the V-cut test three times, separated by 12
weeks, to analyze responsiveness. Finally, 89 young players of different ages
(U-15 to U-20) and 80 adult players of different competitive levels performed
the V-cut test several times throughout the season to examine between-group
differences. Reliability analysis showed a high intraclass correlation
coefficient of 0.94 and a low coefficient of variation of 0.8%. The
responsiveness was dependent on maturity status, showing a positive response in
pre-peak height velocity (short-term p<0.05) or post-peak
height velocity (short- and long-term p<0.05) players, although the
peak height velocity group did not exceed the minimal detectable change.
Age-related (effect size [ES]: 0.93–5.68) and competitive-level difference (ES:
0.57–1.96) analyses reported better V-cut test performance as age and
competitive-level increased in football players. The V-cut test is reliable for
assessing change of direction ability and can be used to monitor change of
direction ability depending on maturity, allowing it to differentiate between
players of different ages and levels.
Keywords
multidirectional -
conditioning -
team-sports -
change of direction ability
Publication History
Received: 21 November 2025
Accepted after revision: 14 April 2026
Accepted Manuscript online:
17 April 2026
Article published online:
15 May 2026
© 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
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