Analyzing kinematics variables: a structural equation model application for the assessment of skating in developmental and elite ice hockey players

The purpose of this presentation is to describe an approach in which bivariate correlation followed by exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling was used to make sense of kinematic parameters for the purpose of predicting time to skate six meters. Two studies were completed in order to predict on-ice acceleration in both developmental and elite ice hockey players based on the kinematic variables from 3D biomechanical analyses of the skating technique. Through the creation of latent variables, the approach generated valuable information for the coach and the player about the way in which body movements work together to predict performance.