Validity and reliability of a light-based electronic target for testing response time in fencers

De Giorgio, A, Iuliano, E, Turner, A, Millevolte, C, Cular, D, Ardigò, LP, and Padulo, J. Validity and reliability of a light-based electronic target for testing response time in fencers. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-Response time (RT) is a fencing fundamental sensorimotor skill. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the efficacy of a light-based electronic target in fencers, designed to measure and train this entity. Ninety-five fencers (M = 53; F = 42) were tested in regard to their RT, using a light-based electronic target, for 3 different attack types: simple attack, the lunge, and an attack after a 1.5-m thrust. All subjects were divided into elite vs. novice fencers. Elite fencers had national and international rankings, and were again divided with regard to used weapon: épéeists (n = 32; M = 19; F = 13) and foilists (n = 30; M = 13; F = 17). Measurement was evaluated for validity/reliability, sensitivity/specificity, and correlation. Reliability was high for all attack types (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.94-0.96). Lower RTs were found in males for 2 attack types with good sensitivity (81-93%)/specificity (50-91%) for all attack types. Elite fencers responded faster than novice fencers for all attack types (p < 0.001), whereas elite males were faster than females for 2 attack types (p < 0.01). Lower RTs in females correlated with level for one attack type (r = 0.797, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the light-based electronic target system was found to be highly reliable and therefore could be used by fencing athletes as a further measure of performance.