Sports science assessment and fitness testing - evidence based

1. Testing and
assessmen
t
Our topic
The critical role of assessment at the
right time in the realm of sports and
its effect on the development of
athletes from grassroots to the
Olympic level and beyond.
December 2023

2. “Carefully observe oneself and
one’s situation, carefully
observe others, and
carefully observe one’s
environment. Consider fully,
act decisively.”
Jigoro Kano, Founder of Judo

3. Purpose of testing
A. Evaluation of Athlete Performance
B. Identification of Strengths and Weaknesses
C. Monitoring Progress and Development

4. Evaluation of
Athlete
Performance
Fitness professionals may be interested in these results
to compile comparison or normative data to evaluate
clients, while the potential to predict performance
might be particularly appealing to coaches.
The PDCA cycle consists of four parts: Plan, Do, Act, and
Check. The Plan part involves strategic analysis, the Do
part executes the plan, and the Act part evaluates and
adjusts. The Check part provides formative feedback
from quantitative data collection, guiding decision-
making.

5. The table is taken from: Fukuda, D.H. (2019) Assessments for sport and athletic
performance. Chicago, IL: Human Kinetics.

6. A spider plot showing developed flexibility,
balance, power, and explosiveness but
deficient cardiorespiratory fi tness.
Monitoring
the
progress
Identification of assessments with normative
data allows for the coach or fitness
professional to engage in an informed
evaluation of the client’s or athlete’s physical
fitness profile as part of the continuous
improvement process.

7. 03
Key components of
effective testing
02
B. Consideration of
Timing and
Frequency
01
A. Selection of
Appropriate
Assessment Tools
C. Balancing
Physical and
Mental
Assessments

8. It should be a valid measure
&
It should be interesting to the participants - to ensure their cooperation.
Ensure a fair and unbiased selection process.
It should be reliable and objective. That is tests given at different times and by different testers should
yield like results.
When selecting tests to use for fitness assessments, you can't go wrong using these criteria put
forth by Rogers in 1927 (Rogers, 1927). These criteria still ring true today.
It should involve tests which are easily and accurately scored, in scores which are stated in mathematical
terms.
It should involve tests which are adapted to the participants tested.
Selection of appropriate assessments

10. Sample of a quick
musculoskeletal
assessment
The screening
musculoskeletal
examination is also an
integral aspect of the PPE
and a source for further
evaluations, referrals,
interventions, and follow-up.
A screening musculoskeletal
history and examination in
combination can be used for
asymptomatic athletes with
no previous injuries (Table).
An accurate history can
detect more than 90% of
significant musculoskeletal
injuries.
The screening physical
examination is 51% sensitive
and 97% specific.
Carek, S.M., Edenfield, K.M. and Carek, P.J. (2020)
‘Preparticipation Evaluation’, Primary Care: Clinics in Office
Practice, 47(1), pp. 1–17. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2019.10.001.

11. Sample of a complete fitness assessment
battery for a large team

12. The optimal timing for the preparticipation sports evaluation is
approximately 6 weeks before the onset of the sports season
because this period affords time for further evaluation of any
problems that may be identified.
If treatable problems are detected, some rehabilitation success
can be achieved during those 6 weeks.
Furthermore, unconditioned athletes may have an opportunity
to improve their conditioning in this time frame and, thus,
hopefully prevent additional injury.
Consideration of Timing

13. How Frequently to
Test: Striking the
Right Balance
A. Avoiding Over-testing Fatigue
B. Adjusting Frequency Based on Training Cycles
C. Incorporating Periodic Comprehensive Assessments

14. No requirements are established for the frequency of these physical
evaluations. Approaches vary from annual, to season-specific, to single
evaluations performed when an athlete enters a sports program.
Consideration of Timing and
Frequency
Many higher-level institutions use thorough initial evaluations upon the
student's admission to its athletic programs, with annual follow-up
examinations that are focused on particular items together with a
review of the athlete's medical history.
Some of these follow-up examinations may address only the history of
the individual's health. If abnormalities are suspected from the history
screening, these problems should be evaluated thoroughly.
In a number of organized professional sports, preseason and
postseason physical examinations are the standard.

15. When to Test:
Different Stages
of Athlete
Development
A. Grassroots Level 1. Introduction to Early Assessments
2. Identifying Talent and Potential B. Intermediate Levels
1. Periodic Assessments for Skill Refinement 2.
Addressing Growth and Maturation Factors
C. High-Performance Levels 1. Strategic Assessments
for Optimization 2. Fine-Tuning Training Programs for
Elite Athletes

16. Selection
criteria ,
methods
and the
estimated
prognosis
Fuchslocher, Jörg & Romann, Michael & Gulbin, Jason. (2013). Strategies to Support Developing Talent. Schweizerische Zeitschrift
für Sportmedizin und Sporttraumatologie.

17. Different
Stages of
Athlete
Development
A well-planned and balanced schedule of
training, practice, competition, and recovery
will enhance optimum development
throughout the individual’s athletic career.
Often, change for implementation of LTAD
models is difficult, because program
administrators and coaches are uninformed
and at times reticent to such change.
Moreover, parental perspective and
involvement is unresponsive (games versus
appropriate training and practice time), the
modern sports culture is misleading
(“everyone is an expert,” “immediate
gratification,” and “entitlement”), and the
early specialization training model for team
sports is inadequate, making LTAD
implementation difficult.

18. Regardless of the sports organization, the most important elements are teaching proper physical
literacy and improvement of athleticism through proper skill movements learned in a sequential
and progressive program design.
These components will help an athlete become less susceptible to injuries, improve an athlete’s
ability to perform technical and tactical skills more effectively and assist the athlete in coping with
the demands of the sport. Without these components of training, individuals might never reach
optimal athletic development.
The figure below is an overview of a Sequential Sports Program Movement Development Model.

19. The following tables provide a series of sequential movements and serve as yearly
benchmarks for the individual to accomplish in a reasonable amount of time (i.e., when
there is an age change or at the end of the year). To correspond with the sports
program’s age-related organization the following movements are introduced:
Ages 3 and 4: Teach balance/stability, fundamental/dynamic movement, object
control
Ages 5 and 6: Teach and review the above skills, add plyometrics, speed and agility
Ages 7 and 8: Teach and review the above skills, add strength, endurance, power
Ages 9 through 14: Teach and review the above skills
Initial stages of athletic
development testing

20. Example
Table for
skill
checking

21. Example
Table for
skill
checking

22. Tracking growth and other
factors

23. Biological and
chronological age
Understanding the difference and
importance of chronological,
biological, and technical training age
is imperative for the provision of
strength and conditioning –
particularly when it is the coach’s
responsibility to maximise the physical
potential of each athlete.

25. Planning for elite athletes

26. Why Test:
Impact on
Athlete
Development
A. Personalized Training Plans
B. Injury Prevention and
Rehabilitation
C. Talent Identification and
Selection for Advanced
Programs

27. Testing and assessments: Is there any psychological
impact on athletes?
⇒The majority of athletes reported no/minimal measurable
psychological distress before, during, and after cardiovascular PPS.
⇒Most athletes reported positive reactions to PPS, including feeling
safer during sports after screening, expressing a positive impact of
screening on their training, feeling satisfied with their PPS
examination, and recommending PPS to other athletes.
⇒Increased psychological distress was mainly reported among
athletes detected with pathological cardiac conditions and true-
positive screening results, identifying this population as an important
target for interventional approaches aimed at mitigating
downstream psychological consequences.
Hill, B. et al. (2023) ‘Does cardiovascular preparticipation screening cause psychological distress in athletes? A systematic
review’, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(3), pp. 172–178. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-105918.

29. ATHLETE CENTRIC
IMPACT
Whole body assessment
details
Injury evaluation
Latent injury risk
Talent identification
Competitive selection

30. The Critical Role of
Assessments in
Olympic-Level Training
Fine-tuning strategies
Mitigating burnout &
overtraining
Adaptation to
evolving training
needs

31. Sample of
Fine-tuning
of strategy
for an elite
swimmer
based on his
assessments

32. Mitigating overtraining and burnout risk

34. Challenges and
Considerations
in Testing
A. Ethical Considerations
B. Addressing Mental
Health in Assessment
C. Ensuring Consistency
in Testing Protocols
Athletics Games

35. Thank You!
Q&A Session: Open Floor for
Questions and Discussions