Stojanović et al.: Metric characteristics of jumping agility tests Serb J Sports Sci 5(2): 51-59 51 Serbian Journal of Sports Sciences ISSN 1820-6301 Original article Original article Original article Original article 2011, 5(2): 51-59 ID 184068876 Received: 10 Nov 2010 UDC 796.325.012.577 Accepted: 14 Apr 2011 METRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW TESTS CONSTRUCTED METRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW TESTS CONSTRUCTED METRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW TESTS CONSTRUCTED METRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW TESTS CONSTRUCTED TO ASSESS JUMPING AGILITY TO ASSESS JUMPING AGILITY TO ASSESS JUMPING AGILITY TO ASSESS JUMPING AGILITY Toplica Stojanović 1 , Nikola Stojanović 2 & Goran Nešić 3 1 Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Banja Luka, the Republic of SRPSKA. 2 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, SERBIA. 3 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, SERBIA. Abstract Abstract Abstract Abstract With the aim to evaluate the metric characteristics of newly designed tests which assess jumping agility, an experimental study was conducted on a sample of 38 volleyball cadets. Six jumping agility tests were used. The sample test results had normal distribution so their sensitivity was considered satisfactory and their reliability was good (Cronbach’s alpha=0.949-0.984 and Standardized alpha=0.954-0.986). The relatively high factor loading (0.939-0.988) as well as the average inter item correlation (0.875-0.961) both indicate high homogeneity of all tests. Factor validity was also established for the tests, resulting in two latent dimensions: one yielded a projection of 4 tests (FLTJMP, FDTJMP, LATJMP, and ZIGHOP) with the coefficients ranging from 0.50 to 0.82, where the Zigzag Hop test had the highest projection and the Fast Double-Leg Touch Jump test had the lowest; the other yielded a projection of 2 tests (ASTJMP and ROTJMP) with the coefficients of 0.80 and 0.62, respectively. These results can indicate that the Astride Jump and Rotational Jump tests did not show the same factor validity as the other 4 tests so that they did not belong to the area of jumping agility but rather to another area, defined by jumping agility with additional tasks. The Fast Double-Leg Touch Jump test belonged to the primary latent dimension, but since its correlation coefficient was low, it cannot be ascertained to have measured pure jumping agility because its structure of movement leading to the jump performance also included an additional task. To summarize, the new tests showed good metric characteristics for the given study sample but due to more complex coordination required by the ASTJMP, ROTJMP, and FDTJMP tests, there should be reservations as to the measurement of pure jumping agility. Key words: Key words: Key words: Key words: Jumping agility, newly constructed tests, metric characteristics, volleyball players INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Latent motor skills are a very complex set of anthropological dimensions. The study of motor skills is mainly concerned with defining the number and the type of the dimensions of this set. A great deal of research has been aimed at this task; a large variety of motor skills has been discovered; which is more, even a few seemingly constant models have been defined; however, a definite answer in the form of the final model of motor skills has not yet been given. The issue is further complicated by the use of different terminology for the same concepts and vice versa. However, the terms widely recognized in practice are: power, speed, endurance, coordination, flexibility, balance, etc. Speed, as an individual motor skill that enables the performance of a certain locomotion or a movement within the shortest time possible [11], is undoubtedly the essential feature of a number of sports, not to be underestimated even in those disciplines whose results depend on entirely different characteristics. Hence, the existence of a variety of its forms has been established. The evidence of this is found in previous research [4, 6] which, apart from genetically determined general speed, also distinguishes the speed of nerve-muscle reaction to stimulus, the starting and accelerating speed, the single-movement speed, the single-action speed, and the frequence speed. The frequence speed is an ability to perform a quick series of simple or complex multiple movements and is particularly important in sports which require cyclic speed, i.e., the ability to perform fast uninterrupted repetitions of identical movements. These can also include fast movements in simple jumps [2]. Primarily, movement frequency depends on the characteristics of the nervous system and physiological features of the activated muscles [5]. The best way to assess the motor potential in an individual is via motor ability tests. Since motor skills are latent dimensions, it is impossible to find a unique test which would yield a precise assessment of a