i read somewhere here something about the "infamous beep test" that US nats do in training to gauge fitness. what is this, how does it work?
It might be like the one I participated in during H.S. Basically you run up and down channels and you have to beat the beep. But the catch is it gradually gets faster (you do have maybe 10-15 seconds between beeps to catch your breath) and eventually you'll be running sprints at the end. I think our sessions lasted 35-40 minutes and the object is the be one of the last standing. MY H.S. coach used this as a way to increase or decrease your minutes. I absolutely hated this but it served two purposes to a gain/judge endurance and test your mental toughness because you want to quit. That's why my H.S. always out lasted other teams and we were able to score many game winning goals in the last 5-10 minutes throughout H.S.
I believe Walgreens has them. They're fairly accurate, and inexpensive, too. The only bummer is you sometimes get pee on your hand.
m vann was pretty much right on in his description, the beep test is a fitness test. Often times, coaches will administer the test at the begining of a season and then at various times throughout a season to gage improvement. Cones are placed aproxx. 22 yards (or meters, I believe it is a Dutch test) apart and you run back and fourth. A tape or cd is played with a series of beeps. The goal is to reach the cone by the beep. Each level consits of aproxx. 10 beeps. The time between beeps gets shorter with each level. If you fail to make it to the cone before the 5th beep of level 6, your beep test score would be a 6.4 or a 6/4 or 6 & 4 or whatever (also this score would mean you were extremely unfit. Back up goalies typically make it to at least level 8 in Preseason). The amazing thing about this test though is that once you are done, you are DONE! All of sudden, your body hits the wall and you can't go on. It's crazy, you are cruzing along at Level 11, you make it to the cone before the 5th beep, you turn for the next cone and your legs feel like jello! Maybe you make the next cone, but you won't make anymore. It's nearly impossible to fight. It is a fun and different test though. I had a rough copy of a cassette tape of this, but haven't seen it in years. Let me know if anyone can find it anywhere!
Yeah does anyone know where you can find a CD of the beep test? I've had coaches use the tape version but I haven't done this test in years. Thanks.
Ah now that's some good stuff. Only problem with it is sometimes you get goin for so long, and your shoes start coming un-done. It's happened to me a few times...damn laces. Anyways...I'm sure you could find it at any place that sells coaching stuff (i.e. eurosport?)
Chris Henderson's exploits at the test are apparently legendary. Nobody could touch his results then or now.