Logical validation and evaluation of practical feasibility for the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure) test battery developed for young adolescent rugby players in a resource-constrained environment

RESEARCH ARTICLE Logical validation and evaluation of practical feasibility for the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure) test battery developed for young adolescent rugby players in a resourceconstrained environment a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 Matthew Chiwaridzo ID1,2*, Danai Chandahwa2, Sander Oorschot ID3, Cathrine Tadyanemhandu2, Jermaine M. Dambi2, Gillian Ferguson ID1, Bouwien C. M. Smits-Engelsman1 1 Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 2 Rehabilitation Department, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe, 3 Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands * OPEN ACCESS Citation: Chiwaridzo M, Chandahwa D, Oorschot S, Tadyanemhandu C, Dambi JM, Ferguson G, et al. (2018) Logical validation and evaluation of practical feasibility for the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure) test battery developed for young adolescent rugby players in a resource-constrained environment. PLoS ONE 13(11): e0207307. https:// doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207307 Editor: Dominic Micklewright, University of Essex, UNITED KINGDOM Received: July 10, 2018 Accepted: October 29, 2018 Published: November 20, 2018 Copyright: © 2018 Chiwaridzo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Data Availability Statement: All relevant data are available from the Dryad Digital Repository on (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kb8203f). Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work. However, part of the PhD work by the lead investigator was partially supported by the University of Zimbabwe. Abstract There is a growing impetus towards usage of test batteries in talent identification (TID) programmes in rugby. Consequently, there are many test batteries in existence profiling anthropometric, physiological characteristics and rugby-specific skills. There is no consensus in the literature on the constituent variables and corresponding tests required to inform TID programs. Following development of a new test battery called the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure), this study aimed at establishing face, logical validity and practical feasibility of included tests. The test battery, initially comprised of 23 items, had its face and logical validity evaluated by five (5) adolescent rugby coaches and 20 rugby experts, respectively. Logical validation was conducted in two questionnaire-based rounds with Content Validity Index (I-CVI) calculated for each variable. Subsequently, a cross-sectional study targeting 30 local rugby coaches was conducted to determine the perceived practical feasibility of each test item. The results showed excellent I-CVI (>0.78) for 17 variables (speed, weight, height and skin fold measures, repeated high-intensity exercise performance ability, prolonged high-intensity intermittent running ability, change of direction speed, anaerobic capacity, lower-and upper body muscular power and strength, muscular flexibility, reactive agility, passing for accuracy, tackling proficiency, and catching). However, three tests, namely, Reactive Agility, One Repetition Maximum Back Squat and One Repetition Maximum Bench Press had low test-feasibility indices (T-FI< 35) suggesting practicality concerns with implementation in the Zimbabwean context. Thus, these findings suggest the need for substitution or development of new practically feasible tests for upper-and lower body muscular strength and reactive agility. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207307 November 20, 2018 1 / 20 Logical validity and practical feasibility of the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure) test battery Introduction Rugby union (rugby) is a popular sport even in countries hardly known for competitive rugby such as Zimbabwe [1, 2]. With the advent and subsequent global spread of professionalism in rugby since 1995 [3], an increased number of adolescents are participating either professionally or otherwise in this physically demanding collision sport worldwide [4]. Possibly, with continued professionalism and increased demand for young competent rugby players with potential to become successful future elite athletes, the number of young players is likely to increase and also efforts directed towards identifying and recruiting young rugby players will heighten universally [3–6]. Central to the process of talent identification (TID) and recruitment of young rugby talent is the development and usage of screening test batteries composed of variables reflecting the key requirements of rugby and practically feasible tests with acceptable psychometric properties [7–14]. Currently, there is no general consensus in the literature on the ideal constituent variables and the corresponding tests that should be included in test batteries designed to inform TID. Consequently, existing test batteries are varied in composition having dissimilar tests assessing similar construct variables. This is a significant shortcoming when comparison data profiling young rugby players is needed. Despite the complexity of TID programs, the cardinal focus of such programs should be on the objective assessment of key and minimal requirements of the sport of rugby in potential players [5] utilising standardised test batteries. This implies that it is the key requirements of rugby which should provide a theoretical framework underpinning the selection of component variables for inclusion during test battery development [15]. However, in order to understand the key attributes, qualities or skills needed in rugby and, concomitantly, the variables to include in screening test batteries, knowledge of the physical demands of rugby is essential. This knowledge helps in understanding the locomotor and non-locomotor patterns common in rugby [16, 17] and, consequently, facilitates development of test batteries that replicates match demands. Furthermore, alternative approaches in understanding variables to include in test batteries involves establishing qualities, attributes or skills differentiating rugby players by levels of competition or related to match performance [18]. Identified qualities, attributes or skills with high discriminative ability and/or are associated with effective playing performance may then be incorporated in test batteries, as they potentially indicate important attributes required by rugby players. Studies utilising Time Motion Analysis (TMA) and Global Positioning System (GPS) have shown that rugby is a dynamic, intermittent, and highly demanding physical sport [17, 19–29]. It is known that reg (...truncated)