Fitness Tests (for HS boys)?

[MB433]

I coach a high school boys varsity team. Any high school coaches out there with a fitness test they use at the start of the pre-season that they like? I have used the beep test, but it is time and equipment intensive. I used to start tryouts with a 3-mile run, but that really isn't any indication of soccer fitness. I am toying with the idea of a 6 or 8 or 10 minute run like a shorter Cooper test. I've also used different sprint tests. Anybody feel strongly about the test they use?

[igli]

i think the 2 miles in 12 minutes is the gold standard for any proffessional team, i think 2 miles in 15 mins should be satisfactory for hs kids.

[Grinners89]

Your fitness test should depend on what you are testing.

Mucscular strength, muscular power, endurance, agility, flexibility etc

There are plenty of tests to test a variety of things...Harvard Step test, Beep Test, VO2 tests etc.

The word fitness is too often used as a broad term when there are many different types of fitness.

[igli]

why must everyone complicate things, fitness means endurance, its simple.

[rca2]

why must everyone complicate things, fitness means endurance, its simple.

Because sports medicine has come a long way. We know a whole lot more about fitness training than we did 30 years ago. Even before it was understood that there was a difference between aerobic fitness, anaerobic fitness, and power (i.e., jogging, wind sprints, plyometrics). I get a headache when the trainers start talking about different types of speed. :)

[Twenty26Six]

why must everyone complicate things, fitness means endurance, its simple.

I'm pretty sure that it's more complicated than that. If you think jogging around the track at a pace that wouldn't beat a decent 8th-grade 2-miler is "fit", then you're missing the whole point altogether probably.

For one, you're not even touching on anaerobic fitness - which is much more important to the sport than aerobic. Then, you've got work:rest ratios.

"Simple" really doesn't apply here.

[striker2019]

Cooper test is common as you know. 16 110 yard sprints in a given time is used by some teams (I've seen it at multiple college programs). I think the given time is usually like 20 seconds or something...so you run it in about 13-14 then have about a 5 second break before going again. It's hard. What do you want to use the test for? Are you looking to establish some sort of baseline so you know where the team is on the whole? Some players will perform better on different tests and still be fit enough to play at a competitive high school level.

[JoseP]

I coach a high school boys varsity team. Any high school coaches out there with a fitness test they use at the start of the pre-season that they like? I have used the beep test, but it is time and equipment intensive. I used to start tryouts with a 3-mile run, but that really isn't any indication of soccer fitness. I am toying with the idea of a 6 or 8 or 10 minute run like a shorter Cooper test. I've also used different sprint tests. Anybody feel strongly about the test they use?

Out of curiosity; why are you doing a fitness test? Do you plan to make cuts based on the results?

[striker2019]

to correct my above post, run in about 15 seconds, then rest for about 45 before the next sprint

[snolly g]

Out of curiosity; why are you doing a fitness test? Do you plan to make cuts based on the results?

i was wondering the same thing.

[GKbenji]

For my boys HS teams, I use fitness "goals" rather than standards. If you don't make the goal in preseason, you don't get cut... you just get the privilege of running them again... and again, and again... until you do pass. :)

FWIW, here is what I am using this fall. It is not necessarily incredibly difficult for a good HS athlete, but kids can't just come in off a summer of playstation and cheese puffs and pass, either:

Cooper (12 minute) Run: 2860 meters (6-1/2 laps of a 1/4-mile track)
120-yard sprints: 8 times, next sprint starts every 1:40
25-yard shuttle (suicides): 8 times, next sprint starts every 1:45

[Markangelo12]

I use the multi stage fitness test. It is an audio interval test, they run back and forth over 20 yds staying at the same pace with the "beeps" that are on the audio track. the test is somewhere between 20 and 25 levels and each level is one minute, they run until they can no longer stay on the run. The test goes along with a VO2 chart that is also available online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-stage_fitness_test
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/msftable.htm

I edited and added the links... the first is an explanation the second is the vo2 chart.

[Twenty26Six]

I use the multi stage fitness test. It is an audio interval test, they run back and forth over 20 yds staying at the same pace with the "beeps" that are on the audio track. the test is somewhere between 20 and 25 levels and each level is one minute, they run until they can no longer stay with on the run. The test goes along with a VO2 chart that is also available online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-stage_fitness_test

Where do your kids score?

How many coaches does it take to properly observe and eliminate kids that don't make the time for each stage?

[Markangelo12]

I find kids usually do a good job of policing themselves, but 2 coaches is fine for 36 kids (jv and vars.) for me.
Most of the varsity guys were between 13-15 last year, some were higher, none were below a mid 12.
This drill will also show alot about an individuals determination/heart level. Also, it is always good to create a very upbeat, encourageing, positive, helping your fellow teammate enviornment amongst the team when doing this. My players routinely go back into the grid after they have been eliminated to lend motivation and encouragement, jogging along with the remaining few kids.