CSCS Testing and Evaluation
What makes a test valid?
*For a test to be valid, it must emulate the energy requirements and important movements of the sport for which ability is being tested.* Athletes' experience, training status, age, and sex can affect test performance, so these factors should be considered in test selection. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and altitude can also influence test performance, so testers should try to standardize environmental conditions as much as possible.
300 Yard Shuttle
*Tests for Anaerobic capacity.* • Pair off athletes of similar ability. • *The athletes sprint to the line 25 yards (22.86 m) away*, then immediately sprint back to the first line. *Six such round trips are made as fast as possible without stopping.* • The average of two trials is recorded to the nearest 1.0 second.
Hexagon Test
*Tests for agility* - The athlete double-leg hops from the center of the hexagon over each side and back to the center. - *Starting with the side directly in front of the athlete, in a continuous clockwise sequence until all six sides are covered three times (for a total of 18 jumps).* - *Length of Side is 24 inches*
Curl Up Test
*Tests for local muscular endurance* • *Set a metronome to 40 beats per minute* and have the individual do slow, controlled curl- ups to lift the shoulder blades off the mat in time with the metronome. *The upper back must touch the floor before each curl-up.* • The athlete performs as many curl-ups as possible without pausing, to a maximum of 75.
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test
- *These tests are more specific to team sports as they mimic the demands of short intensive bursts of exercise followed by short recovery periods.* - Both of the tests consist of 2 X 20 m shuttle runs at increasing speeds interspersed with a 10-second period of recovery, with the IRT1 starting at 10 km/h and the IRT2 starting at 13 km/h. It is recommended that strength and conditioning professionals use the IRT1.
Reactive-Strength Index
- Boxes of varying heights—for example, 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm - A commercial device able to measure contact time—for example, a jump or contact mat (contact mat systems calculate jump height using flight time.) - Begin with the athlete standing on top of the drop box with the contact mat placed at least 0.2 m in front of the box. - Instruct the athlete to place hands on hips, to step forward off the box without stepping down or jumping up, and, upon contact with the ground, to jump as high as possible while minimizing contact time as much as possible. - From the measuring de vice, obtain the jump height and contact times. - The best of three trials is recorded. - Calculate the reactive strength index as jump height divided by contact time.
505 Agility Test
- On an auditor y signal, the athlete sprints forward 10 m to the first set of timing lights, then sprints a further 5 m to the turning line (one foot must be on or over the line), where he or she is required to turn and accelerate off the line. - The athlete ma y slow down only after passing through the timing lights for the second time. - The best time of two trials is recorded to the nearest 0.1 second. - The athlete completes the trials turning off the preferred leg.
Overhead Squat
- The athlete holds the wooden dowel overhead with the shoulders fully flexed and with elbows locked. The grip should be twice shoulder-width and the feet approximately shoulder-width apart and toes pointing forward or slightly out - The athlete then squats down; the initial action is flexion of the hips and knees. The heels remain in contact with the floor at all times. - The lowering continues until the crease of the hips is below the top of the knee. - The athlete should be able to hold this position with the torso remaining upright (parallel to the tibia) and the wooden dowel (or barbell) comfortably overhead. - The athlete performs a minimum of five repetitions, and the assessor views the movement from the side. - *The assessment is qualitative and the goal is to assess the physical competency, with the movement scored as pass/fail.*
Star Excursion Balance Test
- The athlete stands in the center of a grid with eight lines (120 cm) extending out at 45° increments - The athlete maintains a single-leg stance facing in one direction while reaching with the contralateral leg as far as possible for each taped line, touching the farthest point possible and then returning to the bilateral position. Within a single trial, the athlete remains facing in the beginning direction and the stance leg remains the same, with the other leg doing all of the reaching. - The distance from the center of the star to the touch position is measured. - The starting direction and support leg are chosen randomly. Three trials are performed for each condition and averaged. - Trials are discarded if the athlete does not touch the line, lifts stance foot from the center grid, loses balance, or does not maintain start and return positions for 1 full second.
Static Vertical Jump
- The test procedures are essentially the same as for the vertical jump, except that the countermovement is removed. - Athlete descends into a squat position (knee angle approximately 110°) and holds this position for 2 to 3 seconds before jumping vertically
Balance Error Scoring System (BESS)
- The three stance positions are double-leg stance with feet together, single-leg stance on the nondominant foot with contralateral leg in approximately 90° of flexion, and tandem stance with the dominant foot in front of the nondominant foot (95). The test is conducted on a firm surface and on a soft surface. - *The stances are held for 20 seconds with eyes closed for each condition and hands on hips.* - Athletes are told to keep as steady as possible, and if they lose balance, they attempt to regain their initial position as quickly as possible. - Errors include opening eyes; lifting hands from hips; touchdown of nonstance foot; step, hop, or other movement of the stance foot or feet; lifting forefeet or heel; moving hip into more than 30° of hip flexion or abduction; or remaining out of position for more than 5 seconds. - The error scores from the BESS test are summed into a single score.
What are tests that asses maximum muscular power?
1RM power clea, standing long jump, vertical jump, static vertical jump, reactive strength index, margaria-kalaman test.
Reliability
A measure of the degree of consistency or repeatability of a test • Measurement error can arise from the following • Intrasubject (within subjects) variability • Lack of interrater (between raters) reliability or agreement • Intrarater (within raters) variability • Failure of the test itself to provide consistent results
What is the primary source of energy for both low speed and high speed muscular strength tests?
ATP
Local Muscular Endurance
Ability of certain muscles or muscle groups to per-form repeated contractions against a submaximal resistance
Agility
Ability to stop, start, and change the direction of the body or body parts rapidly and in a controlled manner
Chapter 13
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation of Selected Tests
Age and Sex
Both may an affect athlete's experience, interest, and ability.
Skinfold Measurement
Common skin fold sites for measurement. • Chest: a diagonal fold one half the distance between the anterior axillary line and the nipple for men • Thigh: a vertical fold on the anterior aspect of the thigh, midway between the hip and knee • Abdomen: a vertical fold 1 inch to the right of the umbilicus • Triceps: a vertical fold on the posterior midline of the upper arm, halfway between the acromion and olecranon process • Suprailium: a diagonal fold above the crest of the ilium • Midaxilla: a vertical fold on the midaxillary line at the level of the xiphoid process • Subscapula: a diagonal fold that extends from the vertebral border to a point 1 inch from the inferior angle of scapula • Calf: a vertical fold along the medial side of the calf
Metabolic Energy System Specificity
Consider the energy demands (phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative) of the sport when choosing or designing tests.
Test Format
Consider whether athletes will be tested all at once or in groups. The same tester should administer a given test to all athletes if possible. Each tester should administer one test at a time.
3. Flexibility of which of these muscle groups or body areas is assessed during the sit and reach test?
I. hamstrings II. erector spinae III. lumbar spine IV. hip flexors a. I and III only b. II and IV only c. I, II, and III only d. II, III, and IV only Answer is A
When measuring maximal strength of a soccer player, which of the following could potentially adversely affect the test-retest reliability of the results?
I. using multiple testers II. retesting at a different time of day III. an athlete's inexperience with the tested exercise IV. using an established protocol a. I and III only b. II an IV only c. I, II, and III only d. II, III, and IV only Answer is C
Anaerobic Capacity
Maximal rate of energy production by the combined phosphagen and lactic acid energy systems for moderate-duration activities
Assessment of high speed muscular strength can involve...
Measuring the 1RM of explosive resistance training exercises, the height of a vertical jump or the time to sprint up a staircase.
Speed
Movement distance per unit time, typically quantified as the time taken to cover a fixed distance
Recording Forms
Prepare scoring forms ahead of time to increase efficiency and reduce recording errors.
Chapter 12
Principles of Test Selection and Administration
Girth Measurement Common Sites
Procedure - Position the athlete in a relaxed anatomical position f or each measurement (unless otherwise indicated for a particular measurement). Common Sites o Chest—at nipple level in males and at maximum circumference (above the breasts) in females o Right upper arm—at the point of maximal circumference with the elbow fully extended, palm up, and arm abducted to parallel with the floor o Right forearm—at the point of maximal circumference with the elbow fully extended, palm up, and arm abducted to parallel with the floor o Waist (abdomen)—at the level of the umbilicus o Hips (but tocks)—at the maximal protrusion of the buttocks with the heels together o Right thigh—at the point of maximal circumference, usually just below the buttocks o Right calf—at the point of maximal circumference between the knee and ankle
Selection and Training of Testers
Provide testers with practice and training. Ensure consistency among testers.
Flexibility
Range of motion about a body joint
Anaerobic or Maximum Muscular Power (High-Speed Strength)
Related to the ability of muscle tissue to exert high force while contracting at a high speed (also called maximal anaerobic muscular power or anaerobic power)
Maximum Muscular Strength (Low-Speed Strength)
Related to the force a muscle or muscle group can exert in one maximal effort
Body Composition
Relative proportions by weight of fat and lean tissue
A strength and conditioning professional is testing a female athlete using the Jackson-Pollock 3-site body composition formula. Which of the following skinfold sites should be used?
Suprailium, triceps and thigh
Interrater Variability
The degree to which different raters agree; also referred to as objectivity or interrater agreement.
Intrasubject Variability
The lack of consistent performance by the person tested.
Intrarater Variability
The lack of consistent scores by a given tester.
Biomechanical Movement Pattern Specificity
The more similar the test is to an important movement in the sport, the better
Percentile
The percentage of test takers scoring below an individual.
Test Selection
Things to consider: 1. Metabolic energy system specificity 2. Biomechanical movement pattern specificity 3. Experience and training status 4. Age and sex 5. Environmental factors
Test
a procedure for assessing ability in a particular endeavor.
Post Test
a test administered after the training period to determine the success of the training program in achieving the training objectives.
Pretest
a test administered before the beginning of training to determine the athlete's initial basic ability levels.
Midtest
a test administered one or more times during the training period to assess progress and modify the program as needed to maximize benefit.
Field Test
a test used to assess ability that is performed away from the laboratory and does not require extensive training or expensive equipment.
Which of the following sequences will produce the MOST reliable results?
a. 1RM power clean, T-test, 1.5 mile run, 1RM bench press b. T-test, 1RM power clean test, 1RM bench press, 1.5 mile run c. 1.5 mile run, 1RM bench press, T-test, 1RM power clean d. 1RM bench press, 1RM power clean, T-test, 1.5 mile run Answer is B
Which of the following tests is NOT used to measure maximum muscular power?
a. Margaria-Kalamen Test b. vertical jump c. 40 yd sprint d. 1RM power clean Answer is C
Anaerobic capacity is quantified as the maximal power output achieved during activity lasting...
a. less than 10 seconds b. 30 to 90 seconds c. 2 to 3 minutes d. longer than 5 minutes Answer is B
When compiling results from the volleyball team's vertical jump testing, the strength and conditioning professional notices that most scores are similar, but there are three scores that are much higher than the rest. Which of the following measures of central tendency is most appropriate for this group?
a. mean b. median c. mode d. variance Answer is B
All of the following procedures should be followed when testing an athlete's cardiovascular fitness in the heat EXCEPT
a. performing the test in an indoor facility b. using salt tablets to retain water c. scheduling the test in the morning d. drinking fluids during the test Answer is B
The bench press, vertical jump and 10m (11yd) sprint are the MOST valid tests for which of the following American football positions?
a. quarterback b. defensive back c. wide receiver d. defensive lineman Answer is D
Which of the following is a reason for a trial of the T-test to be disqualified?
a. touching the base of cone D b. shuffling from cone C to cone D c. crossing the feet from cone B to cone C d. running forward from cone A to cone B Answer is C
A college basketball coach would like to know which of her players has the most muscular power. Which of the following is the MOST valid test for measuring muscular power?
a. vertical jump b. 1RM bench press c. 5RM squat d. 100m (109 yd) sprint Answer is A
Testing can be used to...
assess athletic talent, identify physical abilities and areas in need of improvement, set goals, and evaluate progress.
Procedure for the Yo-Yo Test
o *Measure out a 20 m test course and arrange cones.* Place markers 2 m apart at both ends of the test course at the start and turning lines. *Also measure out a 5 m distance behind the start line.* o Have the athletes warm up and stretch before the test. The athletes should run the course with a submaximal effort for practice. o The test begins with the athletes standing at the start line. o On an auditory signal, the athletes run forward to the turning line. At the sound of the second signal, athletes arrive at the turning line and then run back to the starting line, arriving in time with the next sound. o When the start marker is passed, the athletes jog toward the 5 m mark, and then turn back to the start line. At this point the athletes stop and wait for the next sound. o The athletes are required to place one foot on or over the starting or turning line at the sound of each beep. o The athletes continue running for as long as they can maintain the increasing speed as indicated by the auditory signals. o *The termination of the test is indicated by the inability of an athlete to maintain the required pace for two trials. A warning is given the first time the start or turning line is not reached.* o At the end of the test, record the last level and number of 2 X 20 m intervals performed at that level on a recording sheet. o The final Yo-Yo intermittent recovery speed and interval score can be used to calculate the total distance covered by the athlete during the test.
Formative Evaluation
periodic reevaluation based on midtests administered during the training, usually at regular intervals.
Construct Validity
the ability of a test to represent the underlying construct (the theory developed to organize and explain some aspects of existing knowledge and observations).
Face Validity
the appearance to the athlete and other casual observers that the test measures what it is purported to measure.
Content Validity
the assessment by experts that the testing covers all relevant subtopics or component abilities in appropriate proportions.
Criterion-Referenced Validity
the extent to which test scores are associated with some other measure of the same ability. • Concurrent validity is the extent to which test scores are associated with those of other accepted tests that measure the same ability. • Convergent validity is evidenced by high positive correlation between results of the test being assessed and those of the recognized measure of the construct (the "gold standard"). • Predictive validity is the extent to which the test score corresponds with future behavior or performance. • Discriminant validity is the ability of a test to distinguish between two different constructs and is evidenced by a low correlation between the results of the test and those of tests of a different construct
Evaluation
the process of analyzing test results for the purpose of making decisions
Measurement
the process of collecting test data.
T-Test
• *Layout: A to B (10 Yds)* • C is 5 Yds to the left of B • D is 5 Yds to the right of B • The test begins with the athlete standing at point A. The athlete: • Sprints to point B and touches the base of the cone with the right hand. • Shuffles left and touches the base of cone C with the left hand. • Shuffles right and touches the base of cone D with the right hand. • Shuffles left and touches the base of cone B with the left hand. • Runs backward past point A.
Inferential Statistics
• Allows one to draw general conclusions about a population from information collected in a population sample. • Population sample must be representative. • Normal Bell Curve
Preparing Athletes for Testing
• Announce the date, time, and purpose of a test battery in advance. • Host a pretest practice session. • Provide clear and simple instructions. • Demonstrate proper test performance. • Organize a pretest warm-up. • Tell athletes their test scores after each trial. • Administer a supervised cool-down period.
Health and Safety Considerations
• Be aware of testing conditions that can threaten the health of athletes (e.g., high heat and humidity). • Be observant of signs and symptoms of health problems that warrant exclusion from testing. • Be observant of the health status of athletes before, during, and after maximal exertions
Army Push Up
• Beginning position - Knees off ground • For the Army standard, as many repetitions as possible are done within a timed 2- minute period.
ACSM Push Up for Females
• Beginning position - Knees on ground, legs crossed • For the ACSM standard, as many repetitions as possible are done continuously until failure.
Magnitude Statistics
• Can provide a more useful approach for practitioners because it allows for interpretation of the clinical significance of fitness testing • Smallest worthwhile change refers to the ability of a test to detect the smallest practically important change in performance. • Effect size is a statistic that can be useful for calculating group performance following a training program or comparing between groups of athletes • ES = ( x posttest − x pretest ) / SD pretest
Experience and Training Status
• Consider the athlete's ability to perform the technique. • Consider the athlete's level of strength and endurance training
Testing Batteries and Multiple Testing Trials
• Duplicate test setups can be used for large groups. • Allow 2 to 3 minutes of rest between attempts that are not close to the athlete's maximum, 3 to 5 minutes between attempts that are close to the maximum, and at least 5 minutes between test batteries.
Aerobic Endurance Training in the Heat
• During the weeks prior to the test, athletes should engage in enough training to *establish a baseline of fitness* in the activity being tested. • Avoid testing under extreme combinations of heat and humidity. • *On days when the temperature is high, indoor facilities should be used, or testing should be conducted during morning or early evening hours.* • The athletes should be *acclimatized to the heat and humidity for at least one week prior to testing.* • Athletes should make sure they are *well hydrated in the 24-hour period preceding* aerobic endurance testing in the heat. • Athletes should be encouraged to drink during exercise in the heat, *ideally 150 to 250 ml (5-9 fluid ounces) every 15 minutes.* • Athletes should wear a *light-colored, loose-fitting tank top and shorts, preferably of a mesh material.* • *Be attentive to possible symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion: cramps, nausea, dizziness, difficulty in walking or standing, faintness, garbled speech, lack of sweat, red or ashen skin, and goose bumps.* • Be aware of the symptoms of *hyponatremia or water intoxication*: extremely dilute urine in combination with bloated skin, altered consciousness, or loss of consciousness, with no increase in body temperature. • Athletes should be encouraged to *eat foods high in magnesium and potassium*. • *Proficient medical coverage should be readily available*
Environmental Factors
• High temperature and high humidity can impair performance, pose health risks, and lower the validity of aerobic endurance tests. • Temperature fluctuations can reduce ability to compare test results over time. • Altitude can impair performance on aerobic endurance tests, although not on tests of strength and power.
Aerobic Capacity
• Maximum rate at which an athlete can produce energy through oxidation of energy resources (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) • Usually expressed as a volume of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per minute (i.e., ml · kg-1 · min-1); also called aerobic power
Central Tendency
• Mean: The average of the scores. • Median: The middlemost score when a set of scores is arranged in order of magnitude. • Mode: The score that occurs with the greatest frequency.
Sequence of Tests
• Nonfatiguing tests • Agility tests • Maximum power and strength tests • Sprint tests • Local muscular endurance tests • Fatiguing anaerobic capacity tests • Aerobic capacity tests
Variability
• Range: The interval from the lowest to the highest score. • Standard deviation: A measure of the variability of a set of scores about the mean.
Developing an Athletic Profile
• Select tests that will *measure the specific parameters most closely related to the characteristics of the sport* or sports in question. • Choose *valid and reliable tests to measure these parameters*, and arrange the testing battery in an appropriate order with sufficient rest between tests to promote test reliability. • Administer the test battery to as many athletes as possible. • Determine the smallest worthwhile change for the tests and compare to normative data where appropriate. • *Conduct repeat testing (e.g., pre- and posttraining program) and use the results to present a visual profile* with figures. • Use the results of the testing in some meaningful way
Skinfold Measurement Procedure
• Should be made on dry skin, prior to exercise • Grasp the skin firmly with thumb and index finger • Place the calipers perpendicular to the fold • Release the caliper grip so tension is exerted on the fold • Read the dial between 1-2 s after the grip has been released record to nearest 0.5 mm • Obtain 1 measurement from each test site than repeat all for a second trial. • If the two measurements do not differ by more than 10% take average of two measurements.
Sit and Reach Test
• Tape yardstick or tape measure to floor • Place a piece of tape about 24 inches long across the yardstick at a right angle to it at the 15 inch mark. • Shoeless athlete sits with yardstick between legs, zero end toward the body, feet 12 inches apart, toes pointed up, heels touching edge of taped line at 15 inch mark. • Athlete slowly reaches forward as with both hands as far as possible on the yardstick, hold position momentarily, athlete should exhale and drop head between arms when reaching • Record best of 3 trials to the nearest 0.25 inch
Pro Agility Test
• The athlete sprints 5 yards (4.6 m) to the left, • Then changes direction and sprints 10 yards (9.1 m) to the right, • Then again changes direction and sprints 5 yards (4.6 m) to the spot where they started.
Margaria-Kalaman Test
• The athlete sprints toward the stairs from a standing start 20 feet (6 m) from the base of the stairs and then up the staircase three steps at a time. • Power in watts is calculated as the athlete's weight (w) in newtons times height (h) in meters from the third step to the ninth step divided by the measured time interval (t) in seconds; P (watts) = (w × h) / t.
Validity
• The degree to which a test or test item measures what it is supposed to measure • The most important characteristic of testing
Anthropometry
• The science of measurement applied to the human body • Generally includes measurements of height, weight, and selected body girths
Testing Conditions
• To maximize the reliability of tests, conditions should be as similar as possible for all athletes tested and from test to retest of the same athlete. • Temperature and humidity, surface, and type of equipment should be consistent. • Athletes should not be tested when fatigued, or when glycogen depleted or overly full from a meal. They should arrive for testing normally hydrated. • Warm-up for the tests should be standardized.
Vertical Jump
• Wall and Chalk • Commercial Vertec Device • Best of 3 trials is recorded to the nearest 0.5 inch