HOW TO DO REAL PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING PROGRAM
A physical fitness testing program serves as a point of reference to which an appropriate program can be developed and applied to a particular athlete. It identifies the weaknesses and strengths of an athlete’s body.
If an athlete and the coach will disregard the fitness testing program, training will most likely be inadequate and incorrect. The weaknesses, flaws, and limitations of an athlete will not be corrected nor adjusted while giving an over-emphasis to strong points that only needs to be maintained.
Physical fitness tests are tests that epitomize the different physical demands of a sport by breaking it down into its various module or element. For example, in the game of football, the different module of the sport must be considered in doing a physical fitness test. These are aerobic endurance, force, agility and speed, and energy. Aside from physical testing, each criterion must be simulated to duplicate the requirements and pressure as well as the development of movement in playing the game.
A sequence of adequately suited fitness tests can develop the athlete’s physical profile wherein each sequence is marked by a standard reference. By using the reference or the benchmark of the athlete as a point of comparison to the industry’s norms and criterion, weaknesses can be spotted and corrected.
This is especially true if athletes do not have lots of time nor possess enough resources to daily spend hours in training. To these athletes, it is most vital that their training be efficiently administered, that is, concentrating on [i]twenty percent that will make eighty percent of the difference. Training program is then focused on the twenty percent with each criterion having its suitable and fitted training time.
Specific, measurable, attainable and realistic goals should be set. These goals can be set only if fitness testing program has been performed. Otherwise, there will be no basis in setting up a goal during the training program.
Regular evaluation and testing is another effective method to gauge whether the fitness program is working on the athlete and if the desired and expected results are being achieved. Fitness programs cannot be deemed successful without regular actual testing. Seeing objective and documented results before the program and after each actual evaluation and testing is found to motivate athletes more to do and perform better towards achieving the set goal.
Fitness tests should adhere to the following standards of quality: validity and reliability,
Validity applies to the extent to which a test measure assesses what it is believed to measure and assess. For example, running long distance is not valid for aerobic endurance. The test should only assess the particular fitness measure it is intended to assess.
Reliability applies to the regularity and constancy of a fitness testing program. Again, test measures should only be applied to criteria it is supposed to measure. Test reliability shows whether the athlete has improved or has not improved on the measured athletic ability as tests conducted more than once will consistently reveal the difference or no difference in the result.
Reliability is not as clear-cut and uncomplicated as validity. There are liabilities and problems that need to be addressed. Among these are the following: 1) a slightly different method or approach will be used by a different examiner who will do the retesting; 2) failure of the examiner to standardize tests; 3) uncontrolled external factors as sequence of administered tests, environmental factors, use of a different equipment to retest; and, 4) uncontrolled internal factors as levels of fatigue, the time frame the tests were conducted wherein women are most affected, and the time the athlete last took food and/or water sustenance.
To substantiate the reliability and accuracy factors of fitness tests, guidelines are set to regulate the procedures. Warming up by light aerobic exercises not shorter than five minutes but not longer than ten minutes should begin the program. Stretching exercises that involve all major muscles should follow. Short and stable tests should be completed first before moving on to more complicated and volatile tests.
In retesting, the original sequence of tests administered should be followed. If possible, retesting should be done in an environmental surrounding and condition that is the same as when the previous test was conducted as well as the time of day. Same equipment should be used. Likewise, the same experienced examiner should also do the retesting procedure.
[i] www.sport-fitness-advisor.com
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