Change of direction speed (CODS) is often considered a main determinant of successful performance in many team sports and is routinely measured using field-based tests. However, controversy regarding test selection still exists based upon the reliability and specificity of the tests. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the reliability, factorial validity, and interrelationships of five frequently used CODS tests (Illinois, L-Run, Pro-Agility, T-test, and 505). Forty-four physical education students (male n = 24; female n = 20; age; 16.7 ± 0.6), who compete within team sports, to varying levels of competition, participated in this study. Three trials for each of the five tests were recorded. All tests had high (intraclass correlation coefficient) test-retest reliability (r = 0.88-0.95) and low typical percentage error (1.95-2.40%). The principle component factor analysis resulted in the extraction of one significant component which explained 89.52% of the total variance. All selected tests were positively and strongly correlated (r = 0.84-0.89). Based upon the results of this study, it was concluded that all tests are highly reliable and valid measures of CODS, with all tests assessing a general athletic ability to change direction. Future research should investigate the factorial validity of the CODS test within homogenous samples.

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Oftentimes, the various coaching staff, sport science, and medical practitioners of a sports club require a single, holistic indication of an athlete's athleticism. Currently, there is no consensus on how this is best defined, and thus, a total score of athleticism (TSA) may provide one such method. The TSA is derived from the average of Z-scores (or T-scores in the case of small samples) from a sport-specific testing battery, ensuring athletes are judged across all the relevant fitness capacities that best define the physical demands of competition. To aid readers in using the TSA, this article also details how it is computed in EXCEL.

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Basketball is a high intensity sport requiring a range of athletic abilities; explosive strength and rate of force development, agility, coordination , speed, anaerobic lactate and alactic capacities. Within elite basketball strength and conditioning programmes, distinct variation in the assessment of such qualities is evident, highlighting the need for evidence based practice to determine acceptable validity and reliability of the measures used. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to determine the physiological requirements of the sport so that suitable testing approaches can be identified from which coaches can optimally assess the physical capabilities of their athletes.

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