Physiological and Performance Correlates of Squash Physical Performance

Carl James*, Timothy Jones, Saro Farra

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The physiological and performance attributes of elite squash players were investigated. Thirty-one players (21 males, world ranking [WR] 42-594; 10 females, WR 7-182) completed a battery of fitness tests which included an aerobic squash-specific physical performance test (SPPT), repeated-sprint ability (RSA), change-of-direction speed (COD), acceleration (5-m sprint), body composition and force development (countermovement jump) assessments. The SPPT provided a finishing lap score, V̇ O2max, average movement economy and the lap corresponding to a blood lactate concentration of 4 mM.L-1. Players were ranked and assigned to HIGH or LOW performance tiers. Two-way ANOVA (performance level*sex) revealed higher ranked players performed better (p < 0.05) for SPPT final lap (d = 0.35), 4 mM.L-1 lap (d = 0.52) and COD (d = 0.60). SPPT displayed a ‘very-large’ correlation with 4 mM.L-1 lap (r = 0.86), ‘large’ correlations with COD (r = 0.79), RSA (r = 0.79), sum-of-7 skinfolds (r = 0.71) and V̇ O2max (r = 0.69), and a 'trivial’ correlation with average movement economy (r = 0.02). Assessments of cardiovascular fitness (i.e. 4 mM.L-1 lap), RSA, COD and body composition appear highly pertinent for performance profiling of squash players. Regular, submaximal assessment of the 4 mM.L-1 lap during the SPPT may offer a practical athlete monitoring approach for elite squash players.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)82-90
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Sports Science and Medicine
Volume21
Issue number1
Early online date15 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

User-Defined Keywords

  • Squash
  • fitness testing
  • aerobic fitness
  • sport-specific
  • squash training

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Physiological and Performance Correlates of Squash Physical Performance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this