Validation of beck battery of skills tests to Brazilian players of wheelchair rugby

Abstract

The Wheelchair Rugby is a sport practiced by subjects with tetraplegia or tetra-equivalence, since 2005 in Brazil, where there are approximately 10 teams in business. The motricity evaluation is a means of training control that allows achieve real progress in planning. The BECK battery of skills tests (ball handling, precision passing, blocking, speed and long distance passing) to wheelchair rugby athletes was developed in the U.S.A. by Yilla & Sherrill (1998).The aim of this study was to examine the criteria of scientific authenticity of the battery to the Brazilian athletes population. The results of two assessments with the battery (test and retest) with 11 athletes (mean age 27.59 ± 5.37 years, length of lesion 8.19 ± 3.83 years), were recorded by three assessors , which allowed the analysis of objectivity, reliability and internal consistency. We used ANOVA for analysis of objectivity and linear correlation and t test for analysis of reliability and consistency. No differences were found between results from different raters (p values ranging from 0.45 to 1.00) and the values of intraclass correlation coefficient found (range r 0.78 to 0.99 p < 0.00) indicate that the battery is consistent and reliable. The results of this study indicate that the criteria of scientific authenticity to the battery are satisfied and battery can be considered a valid tool for motricity evaluation of wheelchair rugby brazilian players.