Assessing Muscular FitnessChapter 5

Anatomy and Physiology for Coaches

Why Assess Muscular Fitness?

“If you don’t know where you are going, you may end up someplace else” (Anonymous)

Evaluate Strengths and Weakness Assess Training Plan

Basic Criteria of Assessment

Sport Specific Valid Reliable Objective Appropriate Easy to Administer Easy for Athletes to Learn Results capable of monitoring progress

Sport Specific

Identify specific movement skills and their corresponding muscular fitness component.

Skill related components Strength Power Endurance Flexibility Agility

Test Design

Test Characteristics Validity

Does the test measure what you want it to measure?

Reliability Is the test repeatable? Would different

testers get the same results? Would the athlete achieve a similar score the next day?

Test Design

Inconsistent Test results can be due to measurement error. Use standardized instructions Use consistent testers Give athletes time to learn the test

Avoids “learning curve” Ensure Consistent test measurements are

recorded Trial the test before giving it to athletes

Test Design

Objectivity and Bias The ability of separate scorers to

independently agree Clearly define measurement / scoring method Use scorers who have no personal interest in

the athletes

Criteria for Good Tests

Relevant Objective Specific Appropiate Learning Curve Gamelike Meaningful Individual Simple Challenging Sensitive

Administering Tests

Test order Agility and coordination Strength and power Aerobic and anaerobic

Warm-up Allow appropriate warm-up time

Administering Tests

Instruction Give Clear instructions Demonstrate test procedure

Oversight Ensure safety and accuracy

Encouragement Offer equal encouragement to all athletes

Rest Allow adequate rest between tests or trials

Feedback Give immediate feedback Results are for personal benefit, not competition

Sample Tests

The reminder of the chapter discusses specific tests for specific skill components.

Please review these tests, so you have an understanding of how they work and be able to identify what tests are related to what skill components.

Another great resource for testing procedures is the ACE Personal Trainer Manual: The Ultimate Resource for Fitness Professionals (Fourth Edition)

Appendix D also contains some great information about testing.

Sample Tests

Strength 1-3 Repetition Max

Power Standing long or vertical jump Wingate cycle test

Power endurance Push-ups, sit-ups

Speed 5-40 yard sprint

Flexibility Sit and reach

Balance One-legged stance

Agility Ladder runs.