Reference values for running sprint field tests in preschool children: A population-based study.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine reference values in the 20m sprint test for Spanish preschool children and to examine the influence of age, sex and anthropometrics characteristics in sprint performance. A cross-sectional study was used. A total of 3076 children, aged 3 to 6 years, participated in this study (1539 girls and 1537 boys). To measure running speed, the 20m sprint test was used. In the analysis of reliability, using test-retest with 89 children (48% boys), the following descriptive results were obtained (mean, SD) at pretest=5.72±0.98s, at retest=5.71±0.87s (p=0.819), and an intraclass correlation coefficient=0.929 (95% confidence interval 0.891-0.954). Boys are faster than girls at 3 to 5 years old, but no significant differences were found at 6 years old. In relation to age, the sprint time was shorter as kids got older. This study provides reference values for running speed assessment through a 20m sprint test carried out on a large sample of Spanish preschoolers.