Assessing Maximum Sprinting Speed in Female Team Sport: The Role of Sprint Distance and Timing-Gate Configuration

Purpose: This study aimed to (1) determine if differences exist in female team-sport maximum sprinting speed (MSS) using sprint distances of 30 and 40 m and split times over 5- and 10-m intervals, (2) determine the intertrial reliability of MSS using each measurement method, and (3) examine the association between sprint acceleration distance and MSS. Methods: Elite and subelite female Gaelic football players (N = 62) performed 40-m sprints with dual-beam timing gates placed every 5 m. Four measurement methods were used to determine MSS: 5-m split times over a 40-m sprint distance, 5-m splits over 30 m, 10-m split times over 40 m, and 10 -m splits over 30 m. Results: A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P < .001) in MSS-derived differences from the different measurement methods with a η²_p of .494 (large effect). MSS was significantly different between all methods (mean differences: 0.02–0.08 m·s⁻¹; Cohen d_z: 0.49–1.25). The greatest mean MSS was achieved using 5-m splits over 40 m. All MSS measurement methods had high relative and absolute reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: .97–.98; coefficient of variations: 1.0%–1.2%; standard error of measurement: 0.07–0.08 m·s⁻¹). There was a significant moderate positive correlation (ρ = .41) between MSS and acceleration distance. Conclusion: The highest estimate of MSS was found using 5-m splits over 40 m. All measurement methods displayed high reliability; we recommend the use of 5 -m splits over ∼30 m when assessing MSS in female team-sport athletes with timing gates.