Fitness Testing• The Importance of Fitness

Testing• Criteria for Choosing a

Fitness Test• Types of Testing

Fitness testing is essential for those interested in sport-related fitness for several reasons:

• It identifies strengths and weaknesses

• It gives feedback about the effectiveness of training

• It provides training incentive• It identifies specific attributes

• Give an example of how each of these points might apply in an individual’s Touch Training Program

The Importance of Fitness Testing

Strengths and Weaknesses

• If a touch player scores poorly on a 30-metre sprint test and vertical jump test, his program should focus on improving his explosive power.

Feedback• By repeating tests at regular intervals,

e.g. every 6 weeks, the individual and the coach receive information about the effectiveness of training program.

• This feedback is important in assessing improvements and making necessary program modifications.

IncentiveTesting tends to

provide training incentive and the motivation to continue the activity, e.g.:

• The Touch player whose 30m sprint test has improved significantly over a 6 week period, feels rewarded for their hard work.

Specific Attributes

• Fitness testing may indicate that an athlete has a specific attribute, such as speed, that may help decide on a position or event suited to her or his abilities.

Criteria for Choosing a Fitness Test

When selecting a fitness test to use, there are a number of criteria that must be met to ensure that the testing is valid, accurate, and suited to your purposes:

• Relevance and specificity• Quality control• Accuracy and reliability• Practicality• The provision of post-assessment

counselling

Relevance and Specificity

Fitness tests should be selected for their ability to measure the components of fitness known to be important to your sport,e.g.:

• If the activity requires running it should be tested with a run or treadmill test, whilst cyclists, rowers, swimmers and kayakers should be assessed on ergometers designed for their sport.

Quality ControlSince test results are affected by

conditions on each testing occasion, always follow these procedures:

• Use the same warm up before beginning the tests.

• Perform the tests in the same order.• Allow the same recovery time between

tests• Make sure the environmental conditions

are the same on each occasion.• Carry out the tests at the same time of

day.• The person being tested should have the

same fluid and nutritional status, and not be sick or injured.

Accuracy and Reliability

• Fitness tests should be able to be repeated without testing error, and they should test the fitness component that each was chosen for.

Practicality

• Field tests Vs Laboratory tests.

Types of Fitness Testing• Aerobic capacity

tests• Anaerobic

capacity and speed tests

• Muscular strength tests• Flexibility tests

• Balance test• Coordination test• Body composition• Agility tests

Aerobic Capacity Test

1. Beep Test• 20m shuttle runs at

increasing speeds.• Speed/time set by

tape/CD - divided into levels.

• Record level reached and compare against norms.

• For more tests see pages 264 - 269 of text . See also local muscular endurance tests.

Anaerobic Capacity Test

1. 40m Sprint• Athlete sprints

40m on sprint track.

• Time recorded.• Compare against

norms..

Muscular Strength Test

1. Basketball Throw

• Athlete sits on ground , back against wall.

• Throw basketball as far as possible, two handed, directly in front of him/her.

• Record distance.• Compare against

norms.

Flexibility Tests

Balance Tests

Co-ordination Tests