Fitness and performance

Fitness and Performance Assessment

KIN 465: Strength and Conditioning

1. Learning Objectives

·      Learn how different health and skill-related components of fitness are generally classified

·      Apply a classification system of human performance and physical preparedness to various sports and athletes

·      Understand the primary components of a sport and activity needs analysis

2. Components of Fitness

Physical performance qualities are the characteristics that define human movement. Understanding these for each sport will help strength and conditioning professionals determine the most important attributes that should be developed for athletes to excel in their sport. The physical performance qualities are generally classified as either:

1. Health related: cardiorespiratory endurance muscular strength muscular endurance flexibility, body comp

2. Skill related: agility, balance, coordination, power, speed, reaction time

3. S-Factors of fitness (broad general): strength, speed, stamina, skill, suppleness, structure, spirt

Health- and Skill-Related Components of Fitness

The heath-related components of fitness are not only essential to overall well-being, but may be a high priority for improving athletic performance. The degree to which a component contribute to the success of the athlete determines how much time is dedicated to developing that component.

The skill-related components of fitness also contribute to overall well-being, but are more synonymous with sports performance. Similar to the health-related components, some of the skill-related components will be more important to athletic performance for particular sports. Understanding which of the health- and skill-related components contribute to overall athletic success

Complete the table below to define the health- and skill-related components of fitness and key elements for each component.

Component

Definition/Description

Key Elements

Cardiorespiratory Fitness

The ability if the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to deliver oxygen for sustained work

Sustained aerobic and anaerobic capacity (perform at max effort with little rest)

Muscular Strength

Ability to produce maximal force through neuromuscular system

Maximal and relative strength, force generation capacity

Muscular Endurance

Ability to sustain repeated muscular contractions over time

Strength endurance, fatigue resistance

Flexibility

Ability to move joint efficiently through their full range of motion

Mobility, muscle tissue extensibility through both static and dynamic ranges of motion

Body Composition

Structural makeup of the body in terms of lean mass and fat mass

Muscle to fat ratio skeletal integrity and postural balance.

Skill related below: most specific to sport performance

Component

Definition/Description

Key Elements

Agility

Ability to make a rapid change of direction or change in speed in response to a stimulus

Reaction time, acceleration, deceleration, power

Balance

Ability to control the body and resist movement from outside forces

Stability, strength, and coordination

Coordination

Ability of the body to perform smooth fluid movements with control and synchrony between muscles across muscle groups

Stability, muscular control (strength and endurance)

Power

Combination of producing the most force in the shortest time of possible

Maximal strength, speed, acceleration

Speed

Ability to cover the most amount of distance in the shortest time possible

Agility, acceleration, velocity

Reaction Time

The ability to respond to an external stimulus quickly and efficient

Speed, acceleration, change of direction, strength, power

 

While the health- and skill-related components are easily classified, one could argue that many of the components could be listed as health AND skill.  The S-Factors of Fitness are another classification system that may help the strength and conditioning professional better determine athletic qualities that need to be developed for sport performance. These were developed by Dr. Mel Siff and encompass the complex nature of human performance and physical preparedness.

The S-Factors of fitness are unique because one could argue that each factor is essential to all athletes, regardless of what sport is being played. Obviously, there will be components that are a higher priority than others, but all are essential to sport development. The time of the year that these factors are developed will be dictated by their priority. For example, while a football athlete does not need a high degree of stamina, it may be beneficial to develop this during the off-season, as stamina, and by proxy cardiorespiratory fitness, aids in recovery between plays.

Complete the table below to define the S-Factors of Fitness and key elements for each component.:reflect human performance and physical readiness

Factor

Definition/Description

Key Elements

Strength

Ability of the neuromuscular system to produce force

Maximal strength, explosive strength, reactive strength, and strength endurance

Speed

Ability to move the body or limb rapidly

Sprinting, rapid force production, acceleration

Stamina

Capacity to sustain prolonged physical effort and resist fatigue

Aerobic and anaerobic endurance cardiovascular efficiency repeat sprint ability

Skill

Ability to perform specific motor tasks efficiently and precisely

Technical proficiency motor control movement economy

Suppleness

Range of motion available at joint or series of joint

Flexibility, mobility, and joint stability

Structure

Anatomical and physiological characteristics that influence performance

Body composition, posture, bone and muscle structure

Spirit

Mental and emotional aspects of performance

Motivation, focus, resilience, confidence, discipline

 

3. Needs Analysis

While there will be some overlap in the physical performance qualities between sports and athletes, there are sport-specific needs that will not transfer quite as well. The Needs Analysis is the first thing a strength and conditioning professional will complete for each athlete and sport they are programming for to highlight the specific skills that need to be developed for each athlete. A Needs Analysis consists of 5 parts:

1. _general information: details about the sport event and athletes

Includes:

·      Sport and position (if applicable)

·      Level of Play: youth, high school, college, professional, tactical, recreational, etc.

·      Time of Season: pre-season/preparatory phase, in-season/operational phase, post-season/recovery/transition, off-season/rebuild, year-round general physical preparedness/sustainment phase

 

Track and field= two different season (indoor and outdoor) there is. A transition phase a post season after outdoor and then off season.

Sprinter 60 meter indoor and 100 m indoor outdoor flat and indoor have a bank indoor because the track is shorter.

400meter outdoor and 200 meter indoor, indoor curves are tighter which impacts our joints and muscles more.

2. movement and biomechanical needs

Includes:

·      Common Movement Patterns

·      Muscle Groups

·      Joints

Starting position preparatory

Movement target action

Ending position follow through

 

High Jump:  run with longer strides and jump off one foot,(we should have thing one legged in the weight room)

Basketball athlete:   frontal plane in flexion (glute quads hammie), bilateral

-squats

-romain deadlifts

-hip thrusts

-box squats

 

3. _metabolic and physiological demands: primary energy systems used(IMPORTANT)

·      Dictated by the energy system(s) required for athletic success

ATP-PCr 10 seconds immediate energy source

Glycolysis:2 minutes used stored glycogen to breakdown and make ATP

Oxidative: low and slow

Use work rest duration to determine the above

Basketball duration 60 minutes

Not moving at same pace the whole time (glycolytic) and oxidative phos will come into play

 

Dominate energy system

Secondary energy system

Typical work duration

Typical rest duration

Work to rest ratio

Intensity: moderate to high for basketball we don’t go max the whole play

* Want to make sure in program we are stressing those systems that are contributing to active play to have success in the sport

 

Tennis

Build maintain pcr and glycolysis and work on aerobic in off season

 

Dominate: ATP/PCR and Glycolysis (active play)

Secondary: oxidative a single match can last hours

Work duration:

Intensity: variable (high, moderate and max) mostly moderate to high)

 

 

4. _physical performance qualities: health and skill related components, s factors of fitness

Includes:

·      Health-related Components

·      Skill-related Components

·      S-Factors of Fitness

volleyball

Max strength-not super important to have biggest lifts but important o build base for reactive and explosive strength

Reactive strength:Important

Explosive strength/power:important

Speed; build speed in off season but we need more acceleration and agility

Rapid force production

Acceleration

Agility(change of direction)

Muscular strength/endurance

Aerobic endurance

Anaerobic capacity

Repeat sprint ability

Mobility/flexibility

Reaction time

Body composition: not to frail or more fat mass. Not a 5 or a 1

 *give rating (1:low priority-5: high priority) and notes explanation

2: somewhat priority (periodically)

3: interchangeable with 2

4: season dependent priority

 

1 is the further I would do it from the competitive season

Only training same movement pattern could lead to fatigue and injury challenge the body differently

Cross country

Agility/change of direction:1

 

 

 

5. contextual and environmental demands: practice and competition conditions, equipment used or worn

·      Where sport is played

 

 

·      What is worn when playing the sport

 

 

·      Rules and structure of the game

Tactical: thought process and decision making

 

 

4. Discussion Questions

1.        Review the skill-related components of fitness. How might these apply to a senior citizen versus an elite-level athlete?

2.        Using the S components of fitness, rank order the attributes most important when training a soccer athlete versus an outfielder in baseball or softball. Discuss your rationale.

3.        List and describe the key components of a sport and activity needs analysis. How do these factors relate to program design and the principles of training discussed chapter one?

4.        From a biomechanical standpoint, what types of injuries would a cross-country athlete be most prone to experience? What types of muscular imbalances or trauma may be common as a result of participating in this sport? How should this influence the emphasis of a training program designed to reduce injury?

5.        Reflect on the information presented in this chapter. List and briefly discus three key points you feel influence your professional practice.