A3 - Carrying out fitness testing and fitness profiling for sports performers
Learning Aims - Explore the use of field- and laboratory-based protocols in sport and exercise
sciences. / Explore profiling of a sports performer following a practical research design using field-
and laboratory-based testing.
LABORATORY-BASED TESTING PROTOCOLS
The use of laboratory-based tests is due to them being the most valid and reliable tests as it takes place
in a controlled environment. Although being more expensive and time consuming, these allow for a
specific component to be measured, (Performance Analysis in Sport - Fitness Testing, 2016).
Laboratory-based testing can take place in a variety of environments in order to measure the
component differences. For this athlete, 4 laboratory-based tests were chosen;
- Vertical jump
- Sit and reach
- Hand-grip dynamometer
- 60s sit-ups
Vertical Jump Test
This test is to measure the anaerobic power of the lower body using a standard vertical jump board
(Adams M, Forsdyke D, Gledhill A, Gledhill A, Lydon C, Manley C, Sutton L, Taylor R, 2016, p.140).
No.1 - Participants stand with their feet together and dominant side against the board. They should
then reach up as high as they can to record their standing reach height.
No.2 - With one dip of the arms and knees, the participant will make the jump while touching the
vertical jump board at the highest point of their jump.
No.3 - Repeat this three times, recording the height of each jump.
Table 1 - Vertical Jump Normative Data
4/C.P5
Sit & Reach Test
Used to measure static flexibility, the individual is required to use a sit and reach box to measure “the
development of the athlete’s lower back and hamstring flexibility”, (Sit & Reach Test, 2002);
No.1 - The athlete warms up for 10 minutes before removing their shoes. A ruler is secured to the box
top so it lines with the 15cm marks.
No.2 - The athlete is seated with their legs fully extended, bare feet flat against the side of the box.
No.3 - Placing one hand on top of the other, the athlete slowly bends forwards while pushing the ruler
as far as possible. The stretch is held for 2 seconds.
, No.4 - The test is performed three times by the athlete, being recorded each time. An average of the
three measurements is then calculated and recorded to be used as the athlete’s end value.
Table 2 - Sit and Reach Normative Data
4/C.P5
Hand-grip Dynamometer Test
This test measures the static strength of the gripping muscles using the whole hand. As the individual
applies pressure to the dynamometer, a spring is compressed therefore moving the needle to record the
result, (Grip Strength Test, 2002);
No.1 - The athlete applies as much grip pressure as possible on the dynamometer with one hand.
No.2 - The ready is recorded, and the athlete proceeds to repeat the test twice more. This can be done
on both hands for comparatives.
No.3 - Highest recorded value is used as the final result.
Table 3 - Hand-grip Dynamometer Normative Data
4/C.P5
60-second Sit-ups Test
Used to measure muscular endurance and the development of the abdominal muscles, the sit-up test
can be done from between 30 seconds to 1 minute. For this test, the 60 second test was chosen to test
our athlete’s endurance. Simply, the athlete is required to perform as many sit-ups as possible in the
60 seconds, without using momentum to help them through.
Figure 4 - Sit-up Test Normative Data (30s)
Learning Aims - Explore the use of field- and laboratory-based protocols in sport and exercise
sciences. / Explore profiling of a sports performer following a practical research design using field-
and laboratory-based testing.
LABORATORY-BASED TESTING PROTOCOLS
The use of laboratory-based tests is due to them being the most valid and reliable tests as it takes place
in a controlled environment. Although being more expensive and time consuming, these allow for a
specific component to be measured, (Performance Analysis in Sport - Fitness Testing, 2016).
Laboratory-based testing can take place in a variety of environments in order to measure the
component differences. For this athlete, 4 laboratory-based tests were chosen;
- Vertical jump
- Sit and reach
- Hand-grip dynamometer
- 60s sit-ups
Vertical Jump Test
This test is to measure the anaerobic power of the lower body using a standard vertical jump board
(Adams M, Forsdyke D, Gledhill A, Gledhill A, Lydon C, Manley C, Sutton L, Taylor R, 2016, p.140).
No.1 - Participants stand with their feet together and dominant side against the board. They should
then reach up as high as they can to record their standing reach height.
No.2 - With one dip of the arms and knees, the participant will make the jump while touching the
vertical jump board at the highest point of their jump.
No.3 - Repeat this three times, recording the height of each jump.
Table 1 - Vertical Jump Normative Data
4/C.P5
Sit & Reach Test
Used to measure static flexibility, the individual is required to use a sit and reach box to measure “the
development of the athlete’s lower back and hamstring flexibility”, (Sit & Reach Test, 2002);
No.1 - The athlete warms up for 10 minutes before removing their shoes. A ruler is secured to the box
top so it lines with the 15cm marks.
No.2 - The athlete is seated with their legs fully extended, bare feet flat against the side of the box.
No.3 - Placing one hand on top of the other, the athlete slowly bends forwards while pushing the ruler
as far as possible. The stretch is held for 2 seconds.
, No.4 - The test is performed three times by the athlete, being recorded each time. An average of the
three measurements is then calculated and recorded to be used as the athlete’s end value.
Table 2 - Sit and Reach Normative Data
4/C.P5
Hand-grip Dynamometer Test
This test measures the static strength of the gripping muscles using the whole hand. As the individual
applies pressure to the dynamometer, a spring is compressed therefore moving the needle to record the
result, (Grip Strength Test, 2002);
No.1 - The athlete applies as much grip pressure as possible on the dynamometer with one hand.
No.2 - The ready is recorded, and the athlete proceeds to repeat the test twice more. This can be done
on both hands for comparatives.
No.3 - Highest recorded value is used as the final result.
Table 3 - Hand-grip Dynamometer Normative Data
4/C.P5
60-second Sit-ups Test
Used to measure muscular endurance and the development of the abdominal muscles, the sit-up test
can be done from between 30 seconds to 1 minute. For this test, the 60 second test was chosen to test
our athlete’s endurance. Simply, the athlete is required to perform as many sit-ups as possible in the
60 seconds, without using momentum to help them through.
Figure 4 - Sit-up Test Normative Data (30s)
