New Position-Specific Movement Ability Test ( PoSMAT ) Protocol Suite and Norms for Talent Identification , Selection , and Personalized Training for Soccer Players

Jubjitt P, Tingsabhat J, Chaiwatcharaporn C. New PositionSpecific Movement Ability Test (PoSMAT) Protocol Suite and Norms for Talent Identification, Selection, and Personalized Training for Soccer Players. JEPonline 2017;20(1):59-82. The purpose of this study was to develop a soccer position-specific movement ability test (PoSMAT) Protocol Suite and establish their norms. Subjects consisted of six different position soccer players per team from six Thai Premier League 2013 teams. The first step was to identify position-specific high speed running/sprint speed with corresponding distances covered by TRAK PERFORMANCE software. The second step was to develop the PoSMAT Protocol Suite by incorporating position-specific movement patterns and speed-distance analyses from the first step into three test protocols for ATTK Attacker, CMCD Central Midfielder and Central Defender, and WMFB Wide Midfielder and Full Back with respect to the soccer players’ abilities in speed, agility, and cardiovascular endurance. The findings indicate that the PoSMAT Protocol Suite was statistically valid, objective, reliable, and discriminating. Also, PoSMAT norms from 360 Thai elite soccer players were established. Thus, the PoSMAT Protocol Suite and norms can be used for position-specific talent identification, selection for proper playing position placement, and individualized training to enhance the players’ soccer career.