Physiological Testing

PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTING

505 Agility Test

Measures: Speed and agility

Relevance to Netball: Netball is a fast paced game and ‘players benefit from having speed’ (Woodlands, 2006), with players not usually sprinting any further than 20 metres (players are only allowed to travel in certain areas of the court). Agility is important because there are a lot of players on a relatively small court, so players need to change direction quickly to ‘work’ the ‘tight spaces’ (Woodlands, 2006).

Equipment: Tape measure, 6 cones, stopwatch

Instructions: Using two cones mark a line 10m from the starting line (also marked by two cones), and mark another line a further 5m from the starting line (15m in total).  You should run from the start line through the 10m line and to the 15m line, then perform a 180º turn and run back to the 10m line, as fast as you can.  Repeat this test twice on each leg (testing your ability to turn on each leg) then calculate your average time (Fitnessforworld.com, n.d.).

(Image from: http://www.fitnessforworld.com/fitness_testing/agility.htm Accessed 18th March 2013)

Attempt	Time (seconds)
1 -Right Leg	Daniel 4.41 Stuart 4.78
2 -Left Leg	Daniel 4.76 Stuart 5.16

My average score was: __Daniel 4.585 seconds/Stuart 4.97 seconds__

Date completed: ___15^th April 2013__

Vertical Jump Test/Sargent Jump Test

Measures: Explosive power of the legs

Relevance to Netball: Netball is a relatively fast paced game in which episodes of explosive strength are key.  It is not only needed for short distance sprinting during games, but for jumping to catch a ball or intercept a pass, and to change direction quickly whilst marking an opposing player or trying to find space (Livestrong.com, 2011). Being able to jump higher than other players and cover short distances in a short amount of time gives the team an advantage because keeping possession/gaining possession is key to scoring goals.

Equipment: Tape measure and chalk (Use Vertec equipment if it’s available)

Instructions: Standing side on to the measuring tape and with both feet flat on the floor, stretch upwards to find your standing height – measuring at the fingertips.  Bend the knees 90 degrees so that you’re in a squat position, then jump upwards whilst swinging your arms and teach the wall (or tape measure).  Your score is the difference between your standing height and your jump height.  Repeat the test 3 times and find the average (Brianmac.com, 2007).

Attempt	1st Attempt	2nd Attempt	3rd Attempt
Height (cm)	Daniel 58 Stuart 43	Daniel 59 Stuart 40	Daniel 56 Stuart 42

Gender	Excellent	Above Average	Average	Below Average	Poor
Male	>70 cm	56-70 cm	41-55 cm	31-40 cm	<30 cm
Female	>60 cm	46-60 cm	31-45 cm	21-30 cm	<20 cm

(Data from BrianMac.com, 2007)

My average score was __Daniel 57.7cm/Stuart 41.7cm_.

I rated _Daniel Above Average/Stuart Average_ against the normative data above.

Date completed: _4^th March 2013__

Handgrip Strength Test

Measures: Grip strength

Relevance to Netball: It’s important that every player in a netball team can catch the ball securely in order to make all passes effective.  The team must be able to trust that each member is able to catch the ball so the whole team is involved in the game and they can focus on more important tactics. 

Equipment: Hand Dynamometer

Instructions: Do the test whilst standing, and with your lower arm slightly away from your body at a 90 degree angle.  Take a deep breath in, and when you breathe out squeeze the grip as hard as you can whilst keeping your hand still.  Repeat the test 3 times on each hand (leaving 30 seconds between each test) and find the average strength of each hand and your total average (Topendsports.com, n.d.)

Hand	Attempt
	1st Attempt	2nd Attempt
Left	Daniel 39 Stuart 53	Daniel 38 Stuart 47
Right	Daniel 39 Stuart 54	Daniel 37 Stuart 51

Gender	Excellent	Good	Average	Fair	Poor
Male	>56	51-56	45-50	39-44	<39
Female	>36	31-36	25-30	19-24	<19

(Data from Brianmac.com, 2002)

My average score was _Daniel 38.5 - Left 38 - Right/Stuart 50 - Left 52.5 - Right_

I rated __Daniel Poor/Stuart Good_ against the normative data above.

Date completed: _4^th March 2013__

The Compass Drill

Measures: Agility and Explosive Speed

Relevance to Netball:  As with explosive strength agility is important in being able to cover space on the court quickly.  It’s especially important to be able to change direction quickly when finding space to receive a pass (dodging) and when marking other players, especially when playing on the centre third, because possession is key to scoring (Woodlands, 2006).

Equipment: Tape measure, five cones and a stopwatch.

Instructions: One cone is placed in the centre, and the remaining are placed 3m away from the centre in a diamond shape (see the diagram).  You should start at the centre cone then run to cone 2, back to the centre and then on to cone 3.  You should then go back to the centre cone, run to cone 4, then go back to the centre before finishing at cone 5 (see the diagram).  Have a three minute break before doing the test again, and calculate your average score (TeachPE.com, n.d.).

  

Image from: http://www.teachpe.com/soccer_football/agility/compass_drill.php [Accessed 18th March 2013]

Attempt	1st Attempt	2nd Attempt
Time (seconds)	Daniel 9.29 Stuart 10.31	Daniel 8.86 Stuart 9.98

My average score was _Daniel 9.075/Stuart 10.145__.

Date completed: _15^th April 2013__

12 Minute Cooper Run

Measures: Aerobic Fitness

Relevance to Netball: Netball matches are a fast-paced and high quality game which last 60 minutes, so it’s important that players have a high level aerobic endurance in order to avoid fatigue (HPAthletes.com, n.d.).  When players become fatigued they may make simple mistakes, which could cost the team points.  Certain players (for example, Centre) will not stop moving during a game and their role is integral to the movement of the ball, and therefore the team relies on them to have stamina and not become tired.

Equipment: Tape measure and cones (if a measured track isn’t available), stopwatch, equipment to record laps.

Instructions: Form a measured circuit using the cones.  You must run around the circuit for 12 minutes and the total distance covered must be recorded.  Although you don’t need to run, you may walk; you should push yourself to get the highest score (Brianmac.com, 1997).

Normative Data for Adult Males:

Age	Excellent	Above Average	Average	Below Average	Poor
13-14	>2700	2400-2700	2200-2399	2100-2199	<2100
15-16	>2800	2500-2800	2300-2499	2200-2299	<2200
17-19	>3000	2700-3000	2500-2699	2300-2499	<2300
20-29	>2800	2400-2800	2200-2399	1600-2199	<1600
30-39	>2700	2300-2700	1900-2299	1500-1999	<1500
40-49	>2500	2100-2500	1700-2099	1400-1699	<1400
>50	>2400	2000-2400	1600-1999	1300-1599	<1300

Normative Data for Adult Females:

Age	Excellent	Above Average	Average	Below Average	Poor
13-14	>2000	1900-2000	1600-1899	1500-1599	<1500
15-16	>2100	2000-2100	1700-1999	1600-1699	<1600
17-19	>2300	2100-2300	1800-2099	1700-1799	<1700
20-29	>2700	2200-2700	1800-2199	1500-1799	<1500
30-39	>2500	2000-2500	1700-1999	1400-1699	<1400
40-49	>2300	1900-2300	1500-1899	1200-1499	<1200
>50	>2200	1700-2200	1400-1699	1100-1399	<1100

(Data from Brianmac.com, 1997)

In 12 minutes I ran _Daniel 2307/Stuart 2080_ metres.

I rated __Daniel Below Average/Stuart Average_ against the normative data above.

Date completed: __11^th March 2013_

References:

Fitnessforworld.com (n.d.) Fitness Testing [online] Available from: http://www.fitnessforworld.com/fitness_testing/agility.htm [Accessed 18th March 2013]

Mackenzie, B. (1997) Cooper V02 Max Test [online] http://www.brianmac.co.uk/gentest.htm [Accessed 18th March 2013]

Mackenzie, B. (2002) Grip Strength Test [online] Available from: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/grip.htm [Accessed 18th MArch 2013]

Mackenzie, B. (2007) Sargent Jump Test [online] Available from: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/sgtjump.htm [Accessed 18th March 2013]

TeachPE.com (n.d.) The Compass Drill [online] Available from: http://www.teachpe.com/soccer_football/agility/compass_drill.php [Accessed 18th March 2013]

Topendsports.com (n.d.) Handgrip Strength Check [online] http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/handgrip.htm [Accessed 18th March 2013]