Performance and metabolic demand of a new repeated-sprint ability test in basketball players: does the number of changes of direction matter?

This study compared 2 repeated-sprint ability (RSA) tests in basketball players. Both tests included 10 × 30-m sprints, with the difference that the previously validated test (RSA_2COD) featured 2 changes of direction (COD) per sprint, whereas the experimental test (RSA_5COD) featured 5 CODs per sprint. Test performances and metabolic demands were specifically assessed in 20 basketball players. First, RSA_5COD test-retest reliability was investigated. Then, RSA_2COD, RSA_5COD sprint times, peak speeds, oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and posttest blood lactate concentration [La^-] were measured. The RSA_5COD results showed to be reliable. RSA_2COD performance resulted better than the RSA_5COD version (p < 0.01), with shorter sprint times and higher peak speeds. Over sprints, the tests did not differ from each other in terms of V̇O2 (p > 0.05). Over whole bout, the RSA_2COD was more demanding than the RSA_5COD, considering overall metabolic power requirement (i.e., VO2-driven + [La^-]-driven components). Given that RSA_5COD (a) mimics real game-play as sprint distance and action change frequency/direction and (b) has the same metabolic expenditure per task completion as metabolic cost, RSA_5COD is a valuable option for players and coaches for training basketball-specific agility and assessing bioenergetic demands.