Lesson video

Hi everybody, and welcome to today's lesson.

I'm Mrs. Brookes, and today we're looking at the benefits and limitations of fitness testing.

Now, we've learned lots around fitness test protocols and how we conduct those tests to monitor fitness, but we're gonna develop that learning to look at now what are the actual good things about going through a range of fitness testing? But are there any downsides? Are there any limitations? So our outcome for today's lesson is where we're gonna feel confident that we can state what those benefits are, but also what those limitations of those protocols are.

And we're gonna develop our skill of evaluate, where we can look at actually whether fitness testing in certain sports is relevant or not.

So our keywords are these.

We're gonna look at limitation.

We'll probably see that word quite a bit.

And we just need a reminder, but that's when we're looking at a potential failing of a test.

So what's not so good about that test to monitor fitness? Validity is a good word to look at whether a test or a method measures what it sets out to measure.

So does it say or does it do what it says it's going to do? Reliability, there's some words there that we hope that you will kind of really associate with reliability.

That's whether it's consistent and it's repeatable.

So by that, it means if you were to do the test over and over again, are you likely to get those consistent or those repeatable scores? And we'll reference the term norm.

So when you see that word norm, that's where we're looking at the result and comparing it to a result that is typical for a particular group.

That could be an age group, for example.

So our lesson is divided into three sections.

We're gonna start by looking at the benefits of fitness testing.

We're gonna build on that learning and then look at those limitations and then finally look at that skill of evaluate and looking at whether a test is actually relevant or not.

So we're gonna base this first part of the learning on Izzy.

Now, Izzy is a footballer, and she's been told by her coach that she's about to do a 12-week training programme, so potentially something that might be happening preseason.

And the coaches have shared with her that they might be doing some fitness tests before that training programme actually starts.

So Izzy is telling us here that she feels quite excited about that but also a little bit nervous and doesn't really understand why she's having to do the fitness tests.

So we feel it's important that the coach explains to Izzy the value of those tests.

Rather than Izzy just seeing them as something that she has to do, it's important that she understands the benefits and the values of them.

So firstly, it would be good to share with her that that's a good way of showing her fitness strengths but also some weaknesses because if there is some weak areas, that can be built on.

Now, that data will be objective, so it'll be giving some results, and we'll have a starting level of fitness that can be compared to some norms. And both of those will inform what that programme now needs to look like for Izzy.

So I imagine the programme would ideally look at her weaknesses or her areas of development.

And from that, that's really good 'cause Izzy can set some goals, and that will provide her that motivation that she'll need throughout that training programme.

So let's look at an example of that.

Now, I'm sure you're familiar with that vertical jump test.

We have a little GIF there playing out to kind of re-jog your memory.

And we know that that test is used to test leg power specifically.

Why is power being tested? Well, Izzy straightaway is reminding us that she probably knows that that test is about her legs and that she does need that power in football, particularly when sprinting or kicking with the ball as it kind of looks at that force that she needs in the muscle to kick the ball hard and with that force.

Now, Izzy scored 42 centimetres on the vertical jump test.

And that benefit there or another value here is we have got normative data.

We have national averages, particularly for that age group.

So we can put Izzy in a category, and that will identify if it is a potential area of strength or weakness.

Now, this is that data, as I've just explained, specifically for 15- to 16-year-olds.

We can see it's categorised by gender, and Izzy would be going in that female category.

So which category do we think Izzy is in? Well done, she's actually just creeped into that average category 'cause we can see her score was 42 centimetres.

So a quick check for understanding at this point.

A benefit of fitness testing is to provide a baseline of fitness levels.

Do we think that's true or false? Well done, it is in fact true.

And if we look at that with reference to Izzy, by her getting that baseline according to that norm, she now is average, as we've identified.

And then that coach could potentially see that as an area of weakness and set a training programme that could then help to develop Izzy's leg power.

Now, Izzy does get told that she'll do that vertical jump test again after six weeks.

So this was a 12-week training programme.

So she's been told that midway through that, they will do like a retest.

And, quite rightly, she's sharing with us there at least she'll know what her score is, and she'll also be confident with the fitness test procedure or protocol.

Now, that's another value of fitness testing, essentially using it to monitor any improvement.

So if it's been seen as that area of development, and that then happens at the first part of her training programme, the benefit there is if you retest, you'll get an understanding if that improvement is actually happening.

And as it says there, that does provide some variety to the training programme, which will also maybe eliminate feelings of boredom or tedium.

So what are our benefits again? Which of these are actual benefits of fitness testing? Is it A, to show that starting level of fitness? Is it B, to replicate movements in the training programme? Is it C, to develop specific fitness components? Or D, to provide that variety? Five seconds to decide.

Well done, it is actually A and D.

It gives you that starting fitness level but in some cases might provide that variety to the training programme.

Now, just look at C there, to develop specific fitness components.

We need to remind ourselves that a fitness test is not the same as a fitness method or training method, all right? A test is to very much test that component of fitness.

Then you go into a training method if you want to develop it.

And that can be often a misconception that we think that fitness tests are about developing the component of fitness.

That's not the case.

It's actually about testing that component of fitness.

So let's summarise.

Those benefits for Izzy are identifying those strengths and weaknesses, giving us that starting level, being able to monitor improvement, providing some real key information so the training programme can be set and set accurately, in some cases, if needed, comparing against those norms, and to provide that motivation and opportunity to set some goals, which will really help keep that person focused on their particular fitness development.

And if it is done throughout the programme, that might provide that variety.

So now we've learned those benefits and those values, we're gonna get onto our first task.

Izzy also completed the 30-meter sprint test to test her speed.

We've got the normative data there, and we can see that she scored 4.

9 seconds.

We need you to kind of use that data to identify the category.

And then the second part of the task is to describe four benefits of Izzy using that sprint test for football.

Pause the recording, and come back to me when you're ready.

Welcome back.

Did you pick out for the first part that actually, Izzy is below average according to her score? And those four benefits you could have described is that that shows a weakness in her speed, and that can be developed now as part of the training programme.

It informs the coach of those training requirements.

I imagine, like the vertical jump test, there'll be an element of retest to monitor improvement.

And that comparison to the norm, even though it's a lower category.

that could provide some motivation for Izzy to try and improve her speed.

So let's move on to the second part of the lesson.

We've looked at those reasons or those benefits, and now we're gonna look at those limitations for fitness testing.

So, like Izzy, we're gonna look at Laura.

Now, Laura's a rugby player and, like Izzy, is doing a training programme, this time for six weeks.

Now, her focus is on strength and power for rugby, and the training is also gonna include some rugby skill development.

She's sharing with us that she's already completed her fitness test and she's completed the one-rep max, one-minute sit-up test, and also the ruler drop test.

So to kind of jog your memory, Laura has completed that one-rep max for strength.

That image there will hopefully just remind you of what that test protocol is.

That one-minute sit-up test, so the amount of sit-ups that can be done in that minute for muscular endurance.

And finally, that ruler drop test, which we know is a protocol specifically for reaction time.

Now, there are some limitations to these tests, and can you think of any of them, that potential failing, particularly for Laura as a rugby player? Did you align with Laura and what Laura's sharing with us here, that she felt very demotivated, particularly when she was doing the ruler drop test? For her, catching a ruler felt very strange when she's more familiar in terms of reactions for her sport about catching a rugby ball or tackling a player at the right time.

Now, if you were thinking the same as Laura, you were questioning the validity of that test.

So validity is very much does it test what it claims to test? So it's that extent that it measures what it sets out to measure.

Now, it does test reaction time, and it provides a measurement of how quickly the ruler is being caught.

So there is that element of the objective measure.

But what we're questioning here is, is that the same reaction time that's needed in rugby? And I think we probably all agree that it's not.

It's not sport-specific, and it certainly does not replicate those competitive conditions for Laura, and therefore the limitation of that test is it possibly isn't very valid in this particular context.

That movement is not really replicated in the movement skills required in rugby either.

We can see there in the image, we've got someone who's about to drop and you catch it between that forefinger and that thumb.

That's very different to those skills and that hand-eye coordination that we're familiar with in that sport.

So let's have a quick check here.

Which of these comments from Laura do you believe is describing validity? She's first of all saying, "The one-minute sit-up test only measures muscular endurance in the abdominals." She also says that she needs muscular endurance in her leg muscle, leg muscles, to get between phases of play.

And the ruler drop test was boring, and she really didn't apply herself very well.

Which of those comments do you really think link to validity? Well done, A and B.

And this time, we're talking about that one-minute sit-up test.

And Laura's right, it is a test of muscular endurance, but only for the abdominal area, that core muscle group.

And quite rightly, she needs that muscular endurance in other muscles, particularly when she's getting between phases of play in her competitive environment.

So it's not testing what it's claiming to measure, specifically for rugby.

Another limitation for the one-minute sit-up test is reliability.

So we've looked at validity, and I actually would put this question to you.

If you completed that one-minute sit-up test three times, would you get the same or a similar result? So it could be that you did it three times in that one day, or it could be you did it every day for three days.

What do you think? How do you think that would go? Now, I think or I'm hoping you're thinking, "Well, it would really depend on how motivated I am.

Have I done any warm-up or exercise the day before?" Can you imagine if you did it three days on the trot? By the third day, your abdominals will probably not want you to do that test.

It might depend who's timing you or who's counting how many sit-ups you did in that minute.

And they're all really good examples of a potential lack of consistency and the repeatability of this test, which does then make it unreliable, and that is a potential failing of this test.

So to really understand that word reliability, which of these following terms are associated with it? Five seconds, see if you can work out which words.

Well done, there are actually three here.

Consistency, repeatability, and similar scores.

They are very much in our description of this keyword.

So in summary, we've now looked at those limitations.

Tests are often not sport-specific or too general, and we really unpicked that specifically for rugby.

Are they valid enough for the sport? And possibly not if they don't replicate the movements of that activity, or certainly those competitive conditions.

In some cases, these tests really require high levels of motivation, and that could be a limitation.

And our procedures need to be very, very good and standardised in order to ensure that we get that consistent and repeated results, which we now know is reliability.

And that's not always easy to do, and this could be those inaccuracies, specifically when it's linked to human error, whether that could be counting, timing, setting out the test, and making sure the measurements are correct.

So like Izzy, Laura's now doing another fitness test, and she's gonna use that handgrip dynamometer.

We've already seen the one-rep max, but we're now looking at that handgrip dynamometer.

We can see here her score.

Like before, we'd like you to identify the category for Laura and then think of four descriptions in this instance of limitations of that test for Laura.

Pause the recording, and come back to me when you're ready.

Welcome back.

So for part one, did we identify that according to that norm, actually, Laura scored in that above average category? And for the limitations, some of the descriptions you could have described, potentially about the environment that that test takes place in, is it linked to the same competitive environment? Yes, grip strength is needed for rugby, but are there other areas of strength that's required? And, you know, is that grip the same as maybe when you're gripping onto a player in order to make that tackle? We could question that reliability.

Would you get those same and repeated results if there was some muscle fatigue? And actually, Laura might have that element of demotivation if the test does not feel that relevant.

And for our final part of the lesson, we've looked at those benefits, we've talked through those limitations, and that key learning will now help us in the final part of the lesson, which is when we're gonna look at that skill of evaluate.

And often, that is looking at both sides, so benefits and limitations.

And we're gonna look at the relevance of a particular fitness test or group of fitness tests for a specific sport.

Now, here's our question.

Evaluate the relevance of sit and reach test for a netball player.

So a reminder there, we've got that sit and reach test protocol and then a good little image there to remind us of that competitive environment for a netballer.

Now, this is part of an extended question where that command word is evaluate, so it's a good skill for us to practise.

And we need to remember that for evaluate, we need to make a judgement on that named test for that specific sport.

And part of that judgement will be when we'll be looking at the benefits of the test, but also those negatives or limitations, both of which we've practised throughout this lesson.

And in some cases, we might also look at a more suitable test and then say why.

So a quick check there, if we can remind ourselves, which of these is the correct description for evaluate? Is it A, B, C, or D? Well done, all of those have a J, which is a good trigger to remind yourself for evaluate.

But this judgement is based on strengths and weaknesses.

Now, to help us to write a paragraph for that question, we need to give some knowledge.

So that might be where we describe the procedure for the sit and reach test.

We would need to link it to netball.

Now, 'cause we know it tests flexibility, we would link that when the player needs that flexibility in netball.

And then finally, we're gonna do that say why, which will be that judgement , and that will involve those positives and negatives.

And as part of our judgement , we may look for an alternative.

So a nice, simple rhyme there in terms of know, apply, say why, to help you with your extended question and your command evaluate.

So let's look at those benefits.

Netballers do need those flexible hamstrings and lower back.

That helps with injury prevention.

And actually, like we learned earlier, that sit and reach test can identify a starting level of fitness.

And if it's an area of weakness, that specific flexibility training could be included into that training programme.

And if you improve flexibility, not only is it gonna give those better hamstrings and lower back, it will assist with movements at the hip and knee, which are used a lot in netball when running and jumping.

Those limitations, though, kind of the contrast.

Well, do netball players need flexibility in other areas of the body? And yes, they do, specifically at the shoulder to be able to reach and mark the shot.

And that's your learning around validity that's now being used to help you with this evaluate skill.

It's not fully sport-specific.

We can see that validity being mentioned there, and that could lead to demotivation.

Is it reliable? Remember what we learned about that reliability.

Well, it depends on where you're doing the test, who the tester is, what you may have eaten or the level of exercise you've done before it, all of which could impact on those results.

And this test is very much fitness-based, but to make something really useful and purposeful, could it be one that maybe you still have some skill-based stuff in there as well, such as catching, dodging, or footwork, all of which are skills we associate with netball.

Maybe a more suitable test, so this is our alternative, could be that 30-meter sprint test.

You could make it even more valid by altering the distance.

So maybe it might match those kind of short, sharp sprints over 5, 10 metres that are more linked to a game of netball.

So we have our three students here, and which one of them is describing a limitation of the sit and reach test? Laura's saying, "It only tests the lower back and the hamstrings." Jun's saying, "It can be completed three times to reach an average score." And Sam says, "If I do a warmup, I am likely to reach further." Which do you think are describing limitation? I agree.

Both Laura and Sam.

Laura is really looking at that validity.

Sam, however, is looking at that reliability.

So for your final test, final practise, sorry, not test, here's our question.

We know it's part of an extended question, and we're gonna ask you to use that know, apply, say why approach and write a paragraph for that sit and reach test for a netball player.

Pause the recording, and come back to me when you're ready.

Welcome back.

How did you do? You might wanna pause the recording at these different points to just look at how the example compares to yours.

But that know is very much the knowledge of sit and reach test, the fact that it measures flexibility, and talking through some of that protocol you will have learned previously.

That apply will be linking to when netball players do need that flexibility.

You can be really specific to maybe the shoulder when they might be reaching for an interception, or the hip when they're doing those dodging, those quick, repetitive sprints.

And then finally, that evaluate, that say why, is when we're gonna bring in some of our key learning in terms of benefits and limitations.

It could be that you did say about it being relevant and why that is relevant, and that it can inform those training requirements and maybe act as a way of injury prevention.

But we need that really, really crucial word of however, and where, you know, it could be a limitation if it's not looking at other areas of flexibility.

And also looking at that element of reliability, and would the results be different if you did it at different points? And a nice little way of bringing that together is mentioning other fitness components that a netball player needs.

And therefore, you know, are there other tests that are relevant and required? Now, what Laura is saying here is if this was an extended question, you would repeat this approach, but for two other tests.

And it could be now that you consider what those two other tests are, link them to a netballer, and then repeat that skill of know, apply, say why.

So in summary, we know fitness tests are used to measure fitness levels.

Different tests definitely have different purpose and value to different individuals, and that, in some cases, can be quite complex.

But hopefully we looked at a couple of examples today of a variety of tests and used those sports of football, rugby, and netball to help us do that.

Those benefits, there are many.

Strengths and weaknesses, that starting level to monitor improvement, inform a training programme, make those comparisons, help with motivation and goal setting, and, in some cases, provide variety.

However, it is important to consider those potential limitations, that keyword of validity helps us to do that, and if that test is specific to the sport and that competitive environment.

Also, does it replicate those movements? And likewise, looking at that test procedure and if it gives you that consistent and repeated results, which we now know is largely linked with reliability, and will it then give you that accuracy in terms of that baseline fitness level? I've really enjoyed taking you through those benefits and limitations of fitness testing, and I look forward to speaking to you on the next lesson.