3.2.3
Fitness Testing
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Reasons for Fitness Testing
Fitness testing can be helpful for a number of reasons:
Discover strength and weaknesses
- Fitness tests can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of a performance.
- E.g. a football player’s dribbling ability might be poor because they have poor agility.
Set baselines
- Performers can do a ‘baseline’ test for each area of fitness to identify any ‘low’ scores in areas that need improving.
- By doing baseline tests, a performer will have a ‘recorded’ starting point. Performers can then compare their starting scores against any progress made.
Track progress
- Progress can be tracked over time to see if improvements are made.
- E.g. if a performer achieved level 5.2 in the multi-stage fitness test (baseline) but, when re-tested after 12 weeks, they achieve level 9.8, this shows that the performer is improving their fitness and their plan is successful.
Prevent tedium
- Fitness tests can provide variety in a training programme.
- Sometimes, training can be boring and fitness tests can be used as competitive tools to get performers interested (they want to beat their previous score).
Peer comparisons
- Performers can compare their fitness test scores with a national average.
- A performer could also compare their score with their peers (fellow performers).
Motivational tool
- A performer may use the fitness test as a motivational tool to improve.
- If a performer knows that they have a fitness test coming up, they are more likely to be motivated to do well.
- They may also have a specific goal to reach, so they will train hard to make sure they achieve that goal when tested.
Limitations of Fitness Testing
However, fitness testing has some limitations:
Too generic
- Tests can be too generic (not sport-specific).
- E.g. a multi-stage fitness test will not always show that a performer is playing football well, because the sport contains both anaerobic and aerobic activity.
Don't mirror sporting movements
- Tests such as the multi-stage fitness test do not recreate sporting movements.
- E.g. team sports do not need a performer to run back and forth in a straight line.
Don't recreate competitive conditions
- Fitness testing does not recreate the competitive conditions that there are in sport.
- Sporting competitions are performed in high-pressure environments that cannot be recreated in fitness tests.
- E.g. these tests can be done over and over.
Many tests aren't completely reliable
- Some tests need a performer to try their hardest to achieve an accurate score. If the performers aren't motivated, then the score will not be accurate.
- In some tests, a partner needs to record the score (e.g. vertical jump test). The person who is scoring may make a mistake and produce unreliable results.
- If the tests are not carried out with correct procedures or protocols, then the results are unreliable.
1Applied Anatomy & Physiology
1.1The Musculoskeletal System
1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System
1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise
2Movement Analysis
2.1Lever Systems
3Physical Training
3.1Health & Fitness
3.2The Components of Fitness
3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4The Principles of Training
4.1Principles of Training
5Using Data
5.1Types of Data
5.2Data Presentation & Analysis
6Sports Psychology
6.2Feedback & Preparation
7Socio-cultural Influences
7.1Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups
7.2Commercialisation
7.3Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues
7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8Health & Fitness
8.1Overview of Health
8.2Sedentary Lifestyles
Jump to other topics
1Applied Anatomy & Physiology
1.1The Musculoskeletal System
1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System
1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise
1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise
2Movement Analysis
2.1Lever Systems
3Physical Training
3.1Health & Fitness
3.2The Components of Fitness
3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4The Principles of Training
4.1Principles of Training
5Using Data
5.1Types of Data
5.2Data Presentation & Analysis
6Sports Psychology
6.2Feedback & Preparation
7Socio-cultural Influences
7.1Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups
7.2Commercialisation
7.3Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues
7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8Health & Fitness
8.1Overview of Health
8.2Sedentary Lifestyles
Practice questions on Fitness Testing
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- 1
- 2
- 3Which of these is not a limitation of fitness tests?Multiple choice
- 4Why are the results of fitness tests often unreliable?Fill in the list
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