PED Ch10- Fitness Testing

Aim of fitness testing

To assess the fitness components of an individual to determine their strengths and weaknesses to help construct an optimal training program

Steps of fitness testing (4)

1. Conduct an activity analysis to determine the specific physiological demands of the sport

2. Consider physiological and psychological perspectives of the individual when choosing fitness tests

3. Pre-participation health screening (PAR-Q) and informed consent

4. Conduct fitness tests with validity, reliability and accuracy

Physiological perspectives to be considered when choosing fitness tests (3)

• Specificity

• Participant’s current fitness level

• Participant’s health conditions

Pre-participation health screening

A Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) can be conducted to determine:

• Health conditions, injuries and exercise levels

• The risk of harming the participant during fitness resting

Informed consent should: (8)

• Outline the participant can withdraw from testing at any time

• Outline aims and methods of testing

• Explain safeguards and protocols

• Outline risks

• Explain confidentiality of results

• Require the participant to inform the tester of health complications

• Allow participants to ask questions

• Obtain the participants signature or signature of a parent/guardian

Psychological perspectives to consider when choosing fitness tests

• Individual’s purpose for fitness testing

• Motivation

• Psychological readiness

Different purposes an individual may have for fitness testing

• To determine strengths and weaknesses to improve performance

• To improve overall health and wellbeing

Ways that motivation influences fitness testing

• Completing a 20m multi-stage fitness test with classmates could be motivating because of the competition or intimidating if boys and girls are being tested together

• The Yo-yo Intermittent Recovery test could be motivating because of the possibility to improve results or intimidating because of its exhaustive nature

Reasons for pre-training program testing

• To identify baselines/benchmarks

• To identify strengths and weaknesses

• To determine player suitability

• To motivate participants

Reasons for during training program testing

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the training program

• To motivate participants

Reasons for post-training program testing

• To review benchmarks

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the training program

• To motivate participants

Validity

The degree to which a test accurately measures what it claims to measure

For a test to be valid for aerobic power, it must

Be of sufficient duration to test the aerobic energy system

For a test to be valid for anaerobic capacity, it must

Use the anaerobic energy systems, which may involve insufficient recovery time

For a test to be valid for muscular strength, it must

Allow for maximal force to be produced by having maximal resistance

For a test to be valid for muscular endurance, it must

Allow for repeated contractions

For a test to be valid for speed, it must

Be able to be completed at maximal intensity, which requires an appropriate distance and recovery

For a test to be valid for agility, it must

Include changes of direction and be able to be completed at maximal intensity (short duration)

Reliability

The consistency of testing and measurements when tests are repeated

The only factor that should change between repeating tests is…

The participant’s fitness level

To ensure reliability, factors that must remain constant include: (7)

• Warm-up

• Sequence of tests

• Recovery between tests

• Time of day

• Nutritional and hydration states

• Methods of measuring

• Weather conditions

Accuracy

The results are a true reflection of what is being tested

Accuracy can be increased by: (4)

• Calibrating equipment

• Using specialised technologies to reduce human error

• Increasing participant understanding of instructions

• Having a valid and reliable test