Shannon W Unit 6 Fitness testing and Training for the uniformed Public services P2, M1
P2:
Every public service will test an individual’s components of fitness during the entrance fitness test.
The components of fitness are; speed, agility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance and
aerobic endurance.
Speed is the maximum rate in which an individual can perform a movement or cover a distance in a
period of time. Speed is often tested by an individual running a 20 metre sprint in the quickest time
possible. The services that most likely require speed is the Police, Fire and Prison services. For
example, having a good level of speed allows an officer to out run a criminal.
Agility is the ability to quickly change body composition or direction of the body. Agility allows an
individual to change direction at speed or gain an advantage when beginning to run. It is often tested
through a small course called the’ Illinois Agility test’ which should be completed as fast as possible.
This component would be essential in the Police Service.
Muscular strength is the extent to which muscles can exert force by contracting against resistance.
The Police, Fire, Prison and Military would also need a good level of muscular strength. This can be
tested in a variety of ways, for example; in the military, they use sit ups, press ups, jerry cans and a
static lift to challenge the individual’s strength. Whereas in the fire service they use a casualty
evacuation and ladder lift. The prison service also has their way of testing an individual’s muscular
strength by doing a 6-8kg shield hold and a grip dynometer.
Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or muscular group to under-go repeated contractions
avoiding fatigue. Muscular endurance can be tested in different ways depending what service the
individual is joining. A good example is the military. They test this in various ways such as the press
ups test, sit ups test, the multi stage fitness test and the 1.5 mile run.
Balance is the ability to stay upright or stay in control of the body movements. It is tested through
the Standing Stork Balance Test. The Fire Service would require a level of balance because they need
to stay in control of their body movement; especially when working at heights.
The multistage fitness test shows the ability of an individual’s aerobic endurance. Aerobic endurance
is the ability to exercise continuously for extended periods of time without becoming tired of
fatigued. (Stamina) The services that would require aerobic endurance would be the police service,
fire service, and the military. Each would use the multi stage fitness test; however, they would have
their own expectations to pass. For example, the police service would expect an individual to
complete level 5.4 in order to pass their fitness test.
Flexibility is defined as the range of motion of your joints or the ability of your joints to move freely.
Flexibility is often an overlooked component of fitness. However, flexibility can be beneficial to any
service, especially the fire service. The sit and reach test is how the services test an individual’s
flexibility and can be improved by doing activities such as yoga and Pilate.
Health is a key factor when joining a public service and the individual must maintain a good level of
health throughout that career. Health is the mental physical and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease. A BMI (Body Mass Index) is a great way to find out if an individual is
underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or obese. Body composition is also an important factor
P2:
Every public service will test an individual’s components of fitness during the entrance fitness test.
The components of fitness are; speed, agility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance and
aerobic endurance.
Speed is the maximum rate in which an individual can perform a movement or cover a distance in a
period of time. Speed is often tested by an individual running a 20 metre sprint in the quickest time
possible. The services that most likely require speed is the Police, Fire and Prison services. For
example, having a good level of speed allows an officer to out run a criminal.
Agility is the ability to quickly change body composition or direction of the body. Agility allows an
individual to change direction at speed or gain an advantage when beginning to run. It is often tested
through a small course called the’ Illinois Agility test’ which should be completed as fast as possible.
This component would be essential in the Police Service.
Muscular strength is the extent to which muscles can exert force by contracting against resistance.
The Police, Fire, Prison and Military would also need a good level of muscular strength. This can be
tested in a variety of ways, for example; in the military, they use sit ups, press ups, jerry cans and a
static lift to challenge the individual’s strength. Whereas in the fire service they use a casualty
evacuation and ladder lift. The prison service also has their way of testing an individual’s muscular
strength by doing a 6-8kg shield hold and a grip dynometer.
Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or muscular group to under-go repeated contractions
avoiding fatigue. Muscular endurance can be tested in different ways depending what service the
individual is joining. A good example is the military. They test this in various ways such as the press
ups test, sit ups test, the multi stage fitness test and the 1.5 mile run.
Balance is the ability to stay upright or stay in control of the body movements. It is tested through
the Standing Stork Balance Test. The Fire Service would require a level of balance because they need
to stay in control of their body movement; especially when working at heights.
The multistage fitness test shows the ability of an individual’s aerobic endurance. Aerobic endurance
is the ability to exercise continuously for extended periods of time without becoming tired of
fatigued. (Stamina) The services that would require aerobic endurance would be the police service,
fire service, and the military. Each would use the multi stage fitness test; however, they would have
their own expectations to pass. For example, the police service would expect an individual to
complete level 5.4 in order to pass their fitness test.
Flexibility is defined as the range of motion of your joints or the ability of your joints to move freely.
Flexibility is often an overlooked component of fitness. However, flexibility can be beneficial to any
service, especially the fire service. The sit and reach test is how the services test an individual’s
flexibility and can be improved by doing activities such as yoga and Pilate.
Health is a key factor when joining a public service and the individual must maintain a good level of
health throughout that career. Health is the mental physical and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease. A BMI (Body Mass Index) is a great way to find out if an individual is
underweight, a healthy weight, overweight or obese. Body composition is also an important factor
