Tracking Progress Towards Health, Fitness and Performance Goals 

Fitness testing provides valuable baseline data to track progress toward health and performance goals. By conducting tests at key points during training, athletes and coaches can monitor improvements. Many sports have developed sport-specific tests, enhanced by technology like GPS tracking and force plates, to improve test validity. For elite athletes, data-driven insights, such as power output and GPS tracking, guide training programs. Fitness testing is essential during pre-season training to measure improvements in strength, endurance, and other physical capacities. Examples like the Bronco test or 1 RM deadlift can track progress in cardiorespiratory endurance or strength. Fitness testing also benefits everyday individuals, helping them monitor their health or performance goals, such as improving a 5 km run time or tracking weight loss.

Player Identification, Talent Scouting and Transfers 

Professional and elite sporting teams use fitness testing as a key tool for talent identification, assessing athletes' physical fitness capabilities alongside their skills and tactical awareness. For example, in AFL, players are evaluated on tests like the vertical jump, agility test, sprints, beep test, and 3 km time trial during the AFL Draft Combine. These tests help identify players with the necessary physical attributes for specific positions. Factors like growth potential, previous injuries, and the ability to develop with the right training are also considered. Medical and functional movement screenings assess flexibility, strength, and body composition, ensuring players can perform at their best and manage any future fitness issues.

Debate: Is fitness testing a reliable tool for predicting athletic success? 

In this activity, we will debate whether fitness testing is a reliable tool for predicting athletic success. We’ll explore how fitness testing impacts talent identification and how it may apply differently to elite athletes versus the general population.

1. Watch the video and read the article, exploring Tom Brady’s NFL Combine results and how they were underwhelming compared to other athletes, yet he went on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJsq5uP7IjI https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/tom-bradys-pre-nfl-draft-scouting-report-will-never-cease-to-be-funny/394583/ 

2. You will be split into two groups and assigned one of the following arguments to support:

• Group 1: Argue that fitness testing is a valuable tool for predicting an athlete’s potential for success.

• Group 2: Argue that fitness testing is not an accurate predictor and that other factors (like mental toughness, adaptability, etc.) are more important for success.

3. After the debate, we will reflect as a class:

• Do you think fitness testing is a fair and reliable tool for predicting success in professional sports?

• How might fitness testing be used differently for elite athletes versus recreational athletes?

• What other factors do you think should be considered when identifying athletic potential?

Activity: Case Study

Lucy, a 26-year-old basketball player, has been sidelined for six weeks after suffering a knee injury. During this time, she was unable to train, resulting in a decline in her strength, agility, and aerobic fitness. Before the injury, Lucy’s fitness levels were regularly assessed. 

1. Identify the key components of fitness relevant to Lucy's sport. 

2. Based on Lucy’s fitness components, what specific fitness data would you want to analyse to determine if she is ready to return to play. 

3. How can fitness testing help ensure she is physically ready to avoid re-injury and perform at her best? 

4. What are the limitations of only using fitness data to assess her return to play readiness?