Professional player fitness tests

[gpels]

You hear about them all the time, a player gets sent to the reserve squad for failing a fitness test or a player's transfer is pending the results of a fitness test, etc. So what comprises a top level professional soccer player's fitness test?

My guess has always been that it's mostly a cardiovascular workout, with a distance run, sprints, and some sort of agility test, but I've never heard any details. I've had friends that played in college and had to meet very challenging standards, so I'm intrigued as to the level at which professionals must maintain their fitness.

[htafc]

You hear about them all the time, a player gets sent to the reserve squad for failing a fitness test or a player's transfer is pending the results of a fitness test, etc. So what comprises a top level professional soccer player's fitness test?

My guess has always been that it's mostly a cardiovascular workout, with a distance run, sprints, and some sort of agility test, but I've never heard any details. I've had friends that played in college and had to meet very challenging standards, so I'm intrigued as to the level at which professionals must maintain their fitness.
it is called the beep test. there is a series of levels e.g. on level 1 there is a long time inbetween each beep in which you have to reach a wall in a sports hall (etc.)there is a few beeps in each level and as the levels get higher the beeps get faster. you have to be around level 15 to become pro.

[cazdaspaz]

I do that at school sometimes. I'm 14 and have got 12 before. Haven't done it for a year though, I've got the beep test on CD, if you wanted it, gpels? Maybe we could sort something out?

[htafc]

I do that at school sometimes. I'm 14 and have got 12 before. Haven't done it for a year though, I've got the beep test on CD, if you wanted it, gpels? Maybe we could sort something out?
:eek: OH MY GOD! WE EVEN HAVE THE SAME FITNESS LEVEL LOL :p

[cazdaspaz]

Something fishy is going on around here :confused: :eek: :rolleyes:

[htafc]

Something fishy is going on around here :confused: :eek:
:confused: something very weird :p

[Paddy31]

A fitness test is often taken by a player with an injury, to assess whether he can play. For example, Shearer had a fitness test before the match against Chelsea on Sunday.

The test varies depending on what needs to be assessed, but often includes sprints and turns. The physio and the player are looking for any reaction to the workout (a twinge or tightness) to indicate whether it is safe to play. Obviously, these tests are relatively short but quite intense, so as not to deplete energy levels too much.

The "beep test" is a generic name for a variety of popular fitness tests. The tests are run continuously until the subjects can no longer continue or start to miss (arrive late at gates). The highest running pace and number of repetitions that the runner can accomplish successfully is then the players rating. The rating is translated, by some biometric wizardry, into an estimate of VO2Max, the amount of Oxygen that the athlete can consume per unit of body mass.

In the standard Beep Test (also known as the Leger Test), the runner covers a 20 meter interval at steadily increasing pace, with several iterations to be completed at each pace before moving on to the next. In the Birtwell Test, a 40 meter course is used. There are also tests for which the running pace varies randomly, in an attempt to more closely match game conditions. There are also variations that allow some recovery time between running intervals.

HumanKinetics (http://www.humankinetics.com/products/showexcerpt.cfm?excerpt_id=2808) recommends that a pro player reach a level of 21/6 on the Beep Test (thats level 21 and 6 reps)!!

[htafc]

HumanKinetics (http://www.humankinetics.com/products/showexcerpt.cfm?excerpt_id=2808) recommends that a pro player reach a level of 21/6 on the Beep Test (thats level 21 and 6 reps)!!
oh! my PE teacher said it was about level 15 :rolleyes:

[Paddy31]

oh! my PE teacher said it was about level 15 :rolleyes:
Might be a different version of the test

[htafc]

Might be a different version of the test
yeah, and it probably depends on the club- real madrid players are going to need a higher fitness than scunthorpe players (no offence to any fans lol :p )

[cazdaspaz]

Yup :)

I know that Gazza, at the peak of his fitness, only achieved 17 though. A kid my age can get 14. (This is definately the 20m course.)

I think the fitness demand is obviously geting greater all the time. :)

[cazdaspaz]

Sorry, I meant G-8. :rolleyes:

[nvan_football]

So I guess if you wanna pass this test succesfully you have to be good at planning your speed for each stage (running slowly during the first stages I mean).

[htafc]

I've got the beep test on CD, if you wanted it, gpels? Maybe we could sort something out?
i dont think he still posts here anymore :) he posted that 17 Sep 2002 lol :p