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

Response time 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 response time, using a light-based electronic target, for three different attack types: simple attack, the lunge, and an attack following a 1.5-m thrust. All participants 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 (ICC 0.94-0.96). Lower response times were found in males for two 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 two attack types (P<0.01). Lower response times 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