A self-paced intermittent protocol on a non-motorised treadmill: A reliable alternative to assessing team-sport running performance

This study assessed the reliability of a ‘self-paced’ 30-min,team-sport running protocol on a woodway curve 3.0 non-motorised treadmill (nmt). ten male team-sport athletes (20.3 ± 1.2 y,74.4 ± 9.7 kg,vo2peak 57.1 ± 4.5 ml•kg−1•min−1) attended five sessions (vo2peak testing + familiarisation; four reliability trials). the 30-min protocol consisted of three identical 10-min activity blocks,with visual and audible commands directing locomotor activity; however,actual speeds were self-selected by participants. reliability of variables was estimated using typical error ± 90% confidence limits expressed as a percentage [coefficient of variation (cv)] and intraclass correlation coefficient. the smallest worthwhile change (swc) was calculated as 0.2 × between participant standard deviation. peak/mean speed and distance variables assessed across the 30-min protocol exhibited a cv < 5%,and < 6% for each 10-min activity block. all power variables exhibited a cv < 7.5%,except walking (cv 8.3-10.1%). the most reliable variables were maximum and mean sprint speed (cv < 2%). all variables produced a cv% greater than the swc. a self-paced,team-sport running protocol performed on a nmt produces reliable speed/distance and power data. importantly,a single familiarisation session allowed for adequate test-retest reliability. the self-paced design provides an ecologically-valid alternative to externally-paced team-sport running simulations. © 2014,journal of sports science and medicine.