An On-Ice Aerobic Maximal Multistage Shuttle Skate Test for Elite Adolescent Hockey Players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to design an on-ice test to predict V·O_2max in ice hockey players. 30 elite hockey players (age 14.7 ± 1.5 years) participated in this study. The oxygen uptake was assessed at submaximal and maximal velocities during an on-ice intermittent maximal multistage shuttle skate test with a 1-min/0.5-min work/rest ratio. The procedure consisted of skating back and forth on a distance of 45 m (stop and go) while following a pace fixed by an audible signal: initial velocity of 3.5 m · s^-1 with increments of 0.2 m · s^-1 every stage. The skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT) enabled the prediction of the V·O_2max (ml · kg^-1 · min^-1) from the maximal velocity (m · s^-1) by means of the following regression equation: V·O_2max = 18.07 × (maximal velocity) - 35.596 (r = 0.97, SEE = 3.01). The test-retest correlation was 0.92 and SEE = 0.56 stage (n = 23). Following the SMAT validation, an additional group of 112 elite male (age = 14.2 ± 1.3 years) and 31 elite female (age = 14.0 ± 1.2 years) ice hockey players performed both the 20-m shuttle run test and the SMAT, which was more specific and accurate to predict V·O_2max. The overall results suggest that the SMAT is highly specific, valid and reliable for the prediction of V·O_2max of ice hockey players.

Key words

ice hockey - retroextrapolation - oxygen consumption - field test - V·O_2max

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