Validation of a New Soccer Shooting Test Based on Speed Radar Measurement and Shooting Accuracy

Abstract

Due to poor results, the German talent identification and development of the German soccer association DFB no longer performs a shooting test since a few years. The aim of this study was to create and validate a new soccer shooting test that allows valid conclusions to be drawn from the shooting quality of youth soccer players about their overall soccer skills. The shooting test was performed with a total of 57 male club players (age: 15.24 ± 0.864 years) from four different teams from the first, second, fifth, and the seventh division of the respective age group (under 15-year-olds until under 17-year-olds). Each subject took one shot at maximum shot speed and eight target shots, measuring accuracy and the shot speed. A multivariable linear regression analysis with forward selection revealed significant values for the variables average shot speed nondominant leg (p < 0.001) and total score (p = 0.004; accuracy × speed of every target shot). Based on these two variables, the soccer skills could be derived from the shooting skills of the adolescents in 57.4% of the cases. The study shows the importance of a good technique with the nondominant leg and of the ability to shoot accurately as well as fast simultaneously.

Keywords: football; radar measurement; shooting accuracy; shooting speed; shooting test; soccer; talent identification; talent prognostic.

Figure 1

Target net which is attached to the posts and the crossbar of the goal.

Figure 2

Test set-up for the shooting test. (1) Radar sensor, (2) Speed indicator of the radar sensor, (3) Test administrator with evaluation sheet, (4) Target net, (5) Marker of the maximum shot speed test, (6) Shooting area for target shots, (7) Starting position of the subjects.

Figure 3

Boxplots of total score by performance level.

Figure 4

Boxplots of avg. shot speed NDL by performance level.