Research article - (2025)24, 277 - 291
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2025.277
Reliability and Utility of the Skills.Lab Arena as A Real-Time Measurement Technology for Soccer Technique and Cognitive Performance
Michał Dolata1,, Teresa Zwierko2, Łukasz Bojkowski3, Brandon Moran1,4, Robert Śliwowski5
1KKS Lech Poznan, Poland
2Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Laboratory of Kinesiology, Functional and Structural Human Research Center, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
3Department of Psychology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
4Seattle Pacific University, School of Exercise Science, Seattle Washington
5Department of Theory and Methodology of Team Sport Games, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland

Michał Dolata
✉ KKS Lech Poznan, Poland
Email: michal.dolata@lechpoznan.pl
Received: 19-11-2024 -- Accepted: 19-03-2025
Published (online): 01-06-2025

ABSTRACT

While motor and technical skills are typically assessed through field-based soccer tests, cognitive skills are usually evaluated in controlled laboratory environments. The Skills.Lab Arena is a newly developed testing and training device that enables motor, technical, and cognitive assessments in a soccer-specific setting. This study evaluated the reliability and usefulness of the Skills.Lab Arena technology. In a test–retest design (7 days, 1 month), 31 young soccer players (age, 13.5 ± 0.5 years) performed 10 trials of technical and motor-cognitive tests. Absolute and relative intersession reliability were determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement, mean differences, and limits of agreement (LoA). A repeated-measures ANOVA was applied to identify potential learning effects between test sessions. The smallest worthwhile change and typical error (TE) were calculated to assess the intersession usefulness of the tests. The Skills.Lab Arena tests demonstrated good relative and absolute intersession reliability, with ICC values ranging from 0.75 to 0.89 for time-based tasks and 0.71 to 0.91 for accuracy-based tasks. Bland-Altman analysis revealed minimal mean differences with acceptable 95% LoA. CV values ranged from 1.78% to 4.5% for time-based tasks and were slightly higher, ranging from 8.08% to 19.87%, for accuracy-based tasks. Learning effects were observed in one ball-related agility test. In light of the results, the Skills.Lab Arena can be considered a reliable diagnostic tool for assessing motor-cognitive performance in young soccer players. However, despite its reliability, further validation is needed before it can be recommended for practical use.

Key words: Testing, training, sport, technique skills, cognition, athlete

Key Points
  • High Reliability of Soccer-Specific Tests: The Skills.Lab Arena demonstrated good intersession reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.75 to 0.89 for time-based tasks and 0.71 to 0.91 for accuracy-based tasks. This indicates that the system is a reliable tool for measuring soccer-specific technical and motor-cognitive performance in young players.
  • Usefulness: The Skills.Lab Arena tests showed sensitivity to performance improvements, with the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) exceeding the typical error (TE) in most tests. This ensures the system can effectively detect meaningful performance changes in soccer skills, making it useful for both training and player development.
  • Minimal Learning Effects: The study found minimal learning effects across testing sessions, except in one agility test with the ball, suggesting that the test battery is wellsuited for repeated use without significant learning biases, further supporting its reliability for player assessments








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