2.2.Physical Fitness Tests

Unit - 2

2.2.Physical Fitness Tests

It is simply a group of fitness tests that closely represents the various physiological demands of your sport or event.


Step one is to break down the sport into its different fitness components. For an event such as the 100m sprint or the marathon this is fairly straight forward. Games such as basketball, rugby and volleyball for example are a little more complex.

One of the more complex examples is soccer. It's an intricate blend of aerobic and anaerobic endurance, strength, power, speed and agility. The test battery should include physical fitness tests that measure each of these components.

Each test must replicate the energy demands and the movement patterns within the sport. Keeping with the soccer example for a moment:

Walking 1 mile as quickly as possible (Rockport test) is less sport-specific than running in 20m bursts backwards and forwards (Multistage shuttle run).
Once the precise energy and movement demands of the sport are understood, the most appropriate physical fitness tests can be chosen. In fact the athlete or coach can even make their own test up so long as it meets the following criteria.
Last modified: Tuesday, 28 June 2011, 8:33 AM