Physiological correlates of performance in international-standard squash players

Tactical, technical and fitness factors are important for success in elite squash. While tactical and endurance fitness aspects have been explored, altered demands that have resulted from rule changes and absence of specific tests of high-intensity exercise capabilities have prevented identification of elements of fitness that correlate with performance in elite-standard players. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between test scores and player rank in such players. With institutional ethics approval, 31 players from the England Squash performance programme participated (11 women and 20 men, mean±SD body mass 62.4±5.5 kg and 73.1±7.5 kg respectively). After habituation, participants completed countermovement and drop-jump tests, squash-specific tests of change-of-direction speed and multiple-sprint ability and the multistage fitness test in one test session. Short recoveries were allowed between tests. World rank at the time of testing was obtained from the Professional Squash Association website. In men, change-of-direction speed (??=?0.59, p?=?0.02, n?=?14) multiple-sprint ability (??=?0.78, p<0.01, n?=?13) and fastest sprint from the multiple-sprint test (??=?0.86, p