2012, Volume 4, Issue 1
The Construction of the Factor Model for Fitness Assessment in Ice Hockey Players
Marek Kokinda1, Robert Kandrac1, Milan Turek1
1Faculty of Sport, University of Presov
Author for correspondence: Robert Kandrac; Faculty of Sport, University of Presov; email: robert.kandrac[at]unipo.sk
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Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to design a factor model whose application would refine the diagnostics of actual and continuous states in ice hockey players.
Material/Methods: The following batteries of tests were used: Test battery 1 serves as a monitoring tool for the Methods Department of Slovak Ice Hockey Federation. Test battery 2 was designed on the basis of previous empirical evidence. A comparative analysis of the batteries was aimed at the qualitative aspect of the criteria of the individual test items.
Results: The results showed partial incompleteness of the battery and a need to complement the battery with test items that would be more indicative of skating performance. The saturation of five factors within test battery 2 demonstrated a hierarchy of individual parameters, which were actually indicative of skating performance.
Conclusions: With a high degree of probability, one may conclude the incidence of a common base of running parameters (factor model 1), which despite a different character of loading shared an identical base. This contradiction represents a certain knowledge paradox indicating that the implementation of these items into the test battery does not sufficiently assess general fitness in ice hockey players making their number redundant.
Key words: factor structure, diagnostics, ice hockey