Reliability and Concordance of 15-metre (15-m) Sprint Performance on Sand and Firm Surfaces

Within-Session and Between-Day Reliability of the 15-metre (15-m) Sprint on Sand and Firm Surfaces, and Concordance Between Conditions, in Male Beach-Sport Athletes

This observational repeated-measures methodological study evaluated the reliability and agreement of a 15-m linear sprint test performed on sand and firm surfaces in male beach-sport athletes. Participants completed three maximal sprint attempts on each surface during up to two testing sessions conducted on separate days.

The study examined trial-to-trial reliability within each session, stability between testing days, and concordance between sprint times obtained on sand and firm surfaces. No therapeutic or training intervention was administered. Sand and firm surfaces were used exclusively as assessment conditions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Football (Soccer) Sprint Performance

Detailed Description

Male athletes participating in beach soccer, beach volleyball, or beach handball completed three maximal 15-m linear sprint attempts on both sand and firm surfaces. Each attempt was performed from a standardised standing start, with at least two minutes of passive recovery between attempts.

Testing comprised up to two sessions per participant on separate days. The order of the surface conditions was counterbalanced to reduce potential order and fatigue effects. Participants who attended two sessions completed the surfaces in the opposite order during the second session.

The primary measured variable was 15-m sprint time in seconds. The arithmetic mean of the three attempts and the fastest individual attempt were calculated for each surface and session. Within-session and between-day reliability were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients, coefficients of variation, standard errors of measurement, typical errors, and minimal detectable changes. Agreement between sand and firm-surface measurements was assessed using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 16

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Colombia
  • Antioquia
    • Guarne, Antioquia, Colombia, 054080
      • Universidad de Antioquia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consisted of male athletes participating in beach soccer, beach volleyball, or beach handball in Antioquia, Colombia. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling based on their availability during the data-collection period. Eligible athletes had completed at least six months of regular beach-sport training. Athletes with a musculoskeletal injury during the preceding six weeks, an acute illness during the preceding seven days, or who were unable to complete at least one full testing session were excluded.

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• Male athlete participating in beach soccer, beach volleyball, or beach handball.
• Minimum of six months of regular beach-sport training.
• Able to complete maximal 15-m sprint assessments on sand and firm surfaces.
• Provision of written informed consent before participation.

Exclusion Criteria

• Musculoskeletal injury during the six weeks preceding testing.
• Acute illness during the seven days preceding testing.
• Failure to complete at least one full testing session.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Male Beach-Sport Athletes; Sixteen male athletes participating in beach soccer, beach volleyball, or beach handball completed repeated 15-m sprint assessments on both sand and firm surfaces. Each participant performed three maximal sprint attempts per surface during each completed testing session. Ten participants completed two sessions on separate days, and six participants completed one session. No therapeutic or training intervention was administered; sand and firm surfaces were used exclusively as repeated assessment conditions to evaluate sprint-test reliability and between-surface concordance.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean 15-m Sprint Time on Sand and Firm Surfaces	Time, measured in seconds, required to complete a maximal 15-metre linear sprint. For each surface and testing session, the outcome was calculated as the arithmetic mean of three maximal sprint attempts. For the between-surface analysis, one participant-level value per surface was derived by averaging session means for participants who completed two sessions or by using the single available session for participants who completed one session.	During up to two testing sessions, each lasting approximately 45 minutes, conducted on separate days within one week.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Within-Session Reliability of 15-m Sprint Time	Trial-to-trial reliability of the three sprint attempts performed on each surface within each testing session, quantified using the absolute-agreement intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(A,1)], coefficient of variation, standard error of measurement, typical error, and 95% minimal detectable change.	Across the three sprint attempts performed during each surface condition within a single testing session (45 minutes).
Between-Day Reliability of 15-m Sprint Time	Stability of mean sprint time between two testing sessions conducted on separate days, quantified using the absolute-agreement intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(A,1)], coefficient of variation, standard error of measurement, typical error, and 95% minimal detectable change.	Across two testing sessions conducted on separate days within one week (each of 45 minutes).
Concordance Between Sand and Firm-Surface Sprint Times	Agreement between participant-level mean 15-m sprint times obtained on sand and firm surfaces, evaluated using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman systematic bias and 95% limits of agreement.	Participant-level measurements derived from up to two testing sessions conducted within one week (each of 45 minutes).
Best 15-m Sprint Time on Sand and Firm Surfaces	Fastest time, measured in seconds, recorded from the three maximal 15-metre sprint attempts performed on each surface during each testing session.	During up to two testing sessions, each lasting approximately 45 minutes, conducted on separate days within one week.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Federal University of Vicosa

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Larsen MN, Ermidis G, Brito J, Orner C, Martins C, Lemos LF, Krustrup P, Rago V. Fitness and Performance Testing of Male and Female Beach Soccer Players-A Preliminary Investigation. Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Feb 23;3:636308. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.636308. eCollection 2021.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: reliability; sprint; concordance; measurement error; sand; beach soccer
• Other Study ID Numbers: SANDSPRINT-OBS-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the publication may be shared upon reasonable request. Requests will be evaluated by the principal investigator and the responsible institution, considering the scientific purpose of the proposed use, participant confidentiality, ethical requirements, and compliance with applicable data-protection regulations. Data will be provided only after approval of the request and completion of an appropriate data-use agreement.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data may be made available beginning after publication of the primary study results and will remain available for five years.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Researchers who submit a methodologically sound proposal may request access to the de-identified data. Requests must describe the research objectives, planned analyses, data-security procedures, and intended outputs. Access will be subject to approval by the principal investigator and the responsible institution, as well as completion of a data-use agreement.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: SAP; ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No