Relationships Between 6 × 8 m Repeated Sprint Performance with Change-of-Direction Demands, Anthropometric Characteristics, and Physical Performance in Under-12 Male Tennis Players

Muhammed Öniz; Mekki Abdioğlu

doi:10.2478/rpesh-2026-0008

Authors

Muhammed Öniz Mardin Artuklu University, Faculty of Sport Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1516-3449
Mekki Abdioğlu Şırnak University, School of Physical Education and Sports https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4533-1594

https://doi.org/10.2478/rpesh-2026-0008

Keywords:

countermovement jump, horizontal jump, squat jump, sprint performance, tennis

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationships between 6 × 8 m repeated sprint performance with change-of-direction demands (RSP-COD) and anthropometric characteristics and selected physical performance parameters in U12 male tennis players. A total of 16 male tennis players (11.25±0.77 years) voluntarily participated in the study. Height, body mass index (BMI), and body weight were assessed as anthropometric parameters. Physical performance tests included the Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Horizontal Jump (HJ), and 5 m and 10 m linear sprint tests as primary measures, with the sit-and-reach test (flexibility) and 20 m backward sprint time as exploratory measures. The 6 × 8 m repeated sprint test was used as the primary outcome measure of RSP-COD. The normality of the data was tested using skewness and kurtosis coefficients and the Shapiro-Wilk test. Although the Shapiro-Wilk test revealed significant deviations for some variables, parametric tests were conducted because the skewness and kurtosis scores fell within the acceptable range of ±2. We examined relationships between variables using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Height (r=-0.841, p<0.001), body weight (r=-0.745, p<0.001), SJ (r=-0.729, p=0.001), CMJ (r=-0.824, p<0.001), and HJ (r=-0.848, p<0.001) were significantly negatively correlated with the 6 × 8 m RSP-COD, supporting the directional hypotheses. Furthermore, moderate positive correlations between 5 m (r=0.677, p=0.004) and 10 m sprint times (r=0.535, p=0.033) and 6 × 8 m RSP-COD were observed. Among the exploratory variables, 20 m backward sprint time showed a very strong negative correlation (r=-0.923, p<0.001). BMI (r=-0.434, p=0.093) and sit-and-reach performance (r=-0.029, p=0.915) were not significantly related. In this sample, the 6 × 8 m RSP-COD was associated with jumping ability, short-distance linear sprint performance, and anthropometric size characteristics, whereas BMI and static flexibility were not significantly associated. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, given the small sample size and cross-sectional correlational design.

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