engleski

Metric characteristics of chosen acrobatic tests for advanced wrestlers

The sample of participants was comprised of 35 top cadet wrestlers (15 to 17 years old) from the discipline of classic wrestling, from 8 different Croatian clubs. This sample we can consider as the representative sample of Croatian top wrestlers.Four acrobatic tests were chosen from the battery of tests for the assessment of the basic and specific training status for advanced wrestlers.The objectivity of the judges in the acrobatic tests, forward pass (PRE_NAP), forward somersault in squat position (SAL_NAP) and backward somersault in squat position (SAL_NAT) evaluated by the Spearman-Brown procedure, Kaiser-Caffrey and Cronbach’ s - a coefficient, is very high (Table2). The arithmetical means of items are mostly unchanged, as are the minimal and maximal results (Table 1). Distribution of the results in the forward pass test (PRE_NAP) shows a tendency of slightly negative asymmetry, and in the backward somersault in the squat position test (SAL_NAT) - slightly positive asymmetry. The average correlations between the grades of the graders show very high values (Table 2), which indicate a very high objectivity by the judges. The authors feel that the evaluation of the acrobatic tests is enabled by the standards set for every grade (Brindl 1997), which favoured objectivity and reliability. The Kolmagorov-Smirnov test of normality of distribution has been used, and the Hi-square test determined that there is no statistic difference between the noticed and expected distributions of results. However, in research done with a large number of tests and participants it is very hard to organise five judges. Because of that reason Cronbach’ s coefficient was tested for three and four graders. The given results show that even with a smaller number of graders, objectivity would remain at a high level (Table 1 and 2), which makes this research easier to organise. The results of earlier research point to the validity of the results for testing coordination (Baić 2003) where these tests got the biggest number of statistically important correlations with other tests for evaluating coordination (maximal turn in jump and backward passes). The same tests participated in defining the factor of agility in the air. The validity of the Forward pass test (PRE_NAP), regarding the criterion of success in wrestling was confirmed by further research (Baić 2003), where it was determined that the results in this test are better if the wrestling group is better. The reliability of the backward pass test (PRE_NAT) evaluated by the Spearman-Brown procedure, Kaiser-Caffrey and Cronbach’ s a coefficient is high (Table 2). The arithmetical means of items are unchanged, similar to the minimal and maximal results (Table 1). Regarding the variability and range of results, we could say that the sensitivity of this measuring instrument is good. However, the results mostly vary in a positively asymmetric manner in relation to the arithmetical mean, so we can say that this test is very hard for this sample of participants, especially if we take into account that only 71% of wrestlers succeeded in doing this test. An increased number of advanced wrestlers (juniors and seniors) would influence the percentage of success in doing this test and the improvement of the metric characteristic of this test. The average correlation between the items shows high values (Table 2), which indicates a high homogeneity of the test. In researches with a larger number of participants and motor or other tests, often it is not necessary to have composite tests (Bala 1990). For that reason Cronbach’ s a coefficient of reliability is measured for the rest of the items if one is excluded (Table 1). The given results show that even with only two items, the reliability would still be acceptably high. The order and size of item correlations to the first main important component brings us to the conclusion that the first attempt should be treated as probationary, because by excluding the first item, the homogeneity between the other two items would increase (Table 1). The results of earlier research point to the validity of the test in terms of evaluating coordination (Baić 2003) where these tests got the biggest number of statistically important correlations with other tests for evaluating coordination (maximal turn in jump, forward passes, forward somersault in squat position, backward somersault in squat position). The same tests participated in defining the factor of agility in the air. The authors can conclude that applied acrobatic tests have good metric characteristics, and could be recommended for use on a population of advanced Croatian wrestlers. The authors feel that in research conducted on top athletes, where they are evaluated with a great number of tests, of which there are several regarding particular dimensions, often it is not necessary to have tests with a large number of items and graders. That is only justified in the cases of clearly set standards for every grade, and scientifically and practically determined necessary number of items and graders for every test.

Metric; Characteristics; Test; Wrestlers

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