Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background/Objectives: In soccer, scanning before receiving the ball helps players better perceive and interpret their surroundings, enabling faster and more effective passes. Despite its importance, no standardized tests currently incorporate scanning actions into assessments of passing abilities. In this study, we test the reliability and validity of a battery of passing tests that assess a player’s ability to control and pass the ball while also scanning for the appropriate target. Methods: We designed three passing tests that reflect different scanning demands that are routinely placed upon players during matches. Using players from the first and reserve teams of two professional clubs in Ghana (Club A, first-team n = 11, reserve-team n = 10; Club B, first-team n = 16, reserve-team n = 17), we: (i) tested the repeatability of each passing test (intraclass correlations), (ii) assessed whether the tests could distinguish between first and reserve team players (linear mixed-effects model), and (iii) examined whether players who were better in the passing tests had higher performances in 3v1 Rondo possession games (linear models). Results: All passing tests were significantly repeatable (ICCs = 0.77–0.85). Performance was highest in the 120-degree test (30.11 ± 7.22 passes/min), where scanning was not required, and was lowest in the 360-degree test (25.55 ± 5.94 passes/min), where players needed to constantly scan behind them. When players were scanning through an arc of 180 degrees, their average performance was 27.41 ± 6.14 passes/min. Overall passing performance significantly distinguished first from reserve team players (β = −1.47, t (51) = −4.32, p < 0.001)) and was positively associated with 3v1 Rondo possession performance (R2 = 0.51, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results show that these passing tests are reliable, distinguish players across competitive levels, and correlate with performance in possession games. These tests offer a simple, ecologically valid way to assess scanning and passing abilities for elite players.
Source: Biomechanics
Institutions: The University of Queensland, University of Ghana
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
Funder: Australian Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W4413007331