Testing helps athletes and coaches assess athletic talent and identify physical abilities and areas that need improvement. Test scores can also support goal setting. Baseline measurements establish a starting point, and repeated testing at regular intervals helps you track progress toward achievable goals. When coaches use test results to set specific goals for each athlete, those individual goals can be aligned to support group or team objectives.
A coach often needs to decide whether an athlete has the physical potential to compete at the team’s level. This decision is straightforward when a candidate has already excelled in the sport and has adequate body size. In many cases, though, candidates haven’t clearly demonstrated their competitive ability or may have limited experience in the sport.
In those situations, the coach needs a way to determine whether the candidate has the basic physical abilities that - combined with technique training and practice - could develop into competitive performance. Field tests provide practical tools for this type of assessment.
Some physical abilities are largely innate and not easily changed, while others can be improved through training. With appropriate testing methods and analysis, the strength and conditioning professional can identify which physical qualities can be targeted through prescribed exercise programs.
To communicate clearly with athletes and colleagues, strength and conditioning professionals should use consistent terminology. The following terms and definitions are widely accepted and are used in this text:
Test results are useful only if the test measures what it is intended to measure (validity) and if the measurement can be repeated with consistent results (reliability). These two characteristics are the key factors in evaluating test quality, and both must be present for a test to be beneficial.
Validity is the degree to which a test or test item measures what it is supposed to measure. It is one of the most important characteristics of testing.
Reliability is the degree of consistency or repeatability of a test. If an athlete’s ability does not change and the athlete is measured twice with a perfectly reliable test, the same score will be obtained both times.
Factors affecting reliability include:
When selecting tests with high validity and reliability, the strength and conditioning professional must rely on both their knowledge base and practical experience with the sport. Several factors must be considered when selecting tests:
To obtain accurate results, tests must be administered safely, correctly, and in an organized manner. Strength and conditioning professionals should ensure that testers are carefully selected and trained, tests are well organized and administered efficiently, and athletes are properly prepared and instructed.
Athletes should be medically cleared before being permitted to physically train and compete. The strength and conditioning professional must understand testing conditions that can threaten athlete health and must watch for signs and symptoms that warrant exclusion from testing.
Before, during, and after maximal exertions - such as maximal runs or 1-repetition maximum (1RM) tests - underlying heart conditions may be revealed or exacerbated. Standard medical screening cannot always detect hidden heart problems, which may occasionally result in fatality among young athletes.
Heat injury is also a risk in hot environments, especially when humidity is high. Athletes should wear light clothing in warm weather and drink water before and during exercise in the heat. Beginning activity in a well-hydrated state and replacing sweat losses is recommended, since relying on thirst alone may not fully prevent under-hydration. Musculoskeletal injuries can also be a problem if symptoms are ignored.
Medical referral may be warranted for an athlete experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, confusion, nausea, blurred vision, rapid pulse, or shortness of breath. Such symptoms can occur long after exercise is terminated and require immediate medical attention.
When aerobic endurance exercise tests are administered in a hot environment, caution must be observed to protect the health and safety of the athlete.
Test administrators should be well trained and have a thorough understanding of all testing procedures and protocols. The testing supervisor should ensure that all novice personnel can perform and score all tests correctly, such as timing sprint speed with a stopwatch or determining a 1RM back squat.
All testers should practice scoring consistently. Test reliability is impaired if one administrator provides verbal encouragement while another does not. Administrators should have a checklist of materials needed for testing and written test protocols for reference. Electronic timing is preferred for greater reliability, but if manual timing is used, start and finish procedures should be standardized.
Scoring forms should be developed before testing to document all test results and comments. Environmental conditions and test setup details should also be recorded. For example, in a 1RM squat test, the tester should note the pin height used for the barbell. This improves efficiency and reduces errors.
A well-organized testing session improves the reliability of test measures. Planning should address whether athletes will be tested individually or in groups and whether the same administrator will score all athletes.
For simple, well-defined tests (such as counting push-ups), different testers may be used. However, for tests requiring skill-based judgment (such as a squat), experienced personnel should be used.
If time is limited and the group of athletes is large, duplicate test setups may be used. For example, in a 30-yard shuttle test, two courses may be set up.
When multiple trials are needed, full recovery between attempts must be ensured. At least 2 minutes of rest should be given between submaximal efforts and 3 minutes between near-maximal efforts. For tests assessing muscular endurance (e.g., push-ups), a minimum of 5 minutes of rest is needed between tests.
To optimize test reliability, tests should be sequenced to minimize fatigue effects. The recommended order is:
The test order should also minimize recovery time between tests. Fatiguing tests should be performed last or on a separate day.
Athletes should be informed in advance about the time, purpose, and procedures of a test battery. A short, supervised pretest practice one to three days before testing can improve reliability.
Instructions should cover:
Test administrators should provide clear, concise instructions and demonstrate proper technique when possible. Athletes should be allowed to ask questions before and after the demonstration.
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