Question

Pick an athlete and conduct a series of tests appropriate for their sport. What tests did you conduct and what were the results? What do the results tell you about your athlete? what goals will you set for the next testing period?

Answer 1

The athlete chosen for fitness test is a 100m sprinter.

The physical fitness tests for a sprinter will include -

* Height

* Body mass

* Leg power [vertical jump]

* Flexibility [sit and stretch]

* Acceleration [speed over 5 or 10m]

* Anaerobic capacity [ 30 second Wingate test or 300m run]

* Sprint test [ 40 yard dash]

For a good sprinter, speed is very important and so are acceleration and power. Low body fat is also important to reduce any excess weight which would only hinder acceleration.

Suppose the athlete needs to improve his/her leg power and flexibility. The training program recommended will include - Squats, jump squats, long jumps, pistol squats, lunges, one-legged heel raise and speed skaters.

Also recommended will be warm ups and running two laps or around 800m at a stretch with 200m jogging recoveries at intervals. This will help improve and strengthen anaerobic muscle capacity.

The goals to be set for the athlete will be to improve on these two parameters.