Testing tells you where an athlete is and whether a block worked. A short battery, repeated the same way, is enough.
Choose valid, reliable tests
Howe and Read wrote a chapter on movement screening and physical capacity assessments. They say coaches should check the validity and reliability of each test first.
Validity means the test measures what you want. Reliability means it gives a consistent result when repeated. Keep the test, the equipment and the time of day the same.
The template
Each row has a quality, a test, what to record, the equipment and how often. These are examples. Change them to fit the athlete.
Powerlifting
| Quality | Test | What to record | Equipment | How often |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximal strength | Squat, bench, deadlift | Heaviest recent single, or a hard set to estimate one | Barbell, plates, rack | Each block |
| Body size | Bodyweight | Kilograms, same morning and scale | Scale | Weekly |
| Lower body power | Countermovement jump | Jump height in centimetres | Jump mat or phone app | Each block |
| Technique | Competition lifts on video | Depth, pauses, lockout | Phone | Every few weeks |
Weightlifting
| Quality | Test | What to record | Equipment | How often |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximal strength | Snatch, clean and jerk | Heaviest recent single | Barbell, plates | Each block |
| Leg strength | Front squat, back squat | Heaviest recent single or set | Barbell, rack | Each block |
| Power | Countermovement jump | Jump height in centimetres | Jump mat or phone app | Each block |
| Mobility | Overhead squat depth | Pass or fail, with a note | Phone | Each block |
Team sport or boxing
| Quality | Test | What to record | Equipment | How often |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Back squat, bench press | Heaviest recent single or set | Barbell, plates | Each block |
| Power | Countermovement jump, broad jump | Distance or height | Tape, jump mat | Each block |
| Speed | 10 and 30 metre sprint | Seconds | Timing gates or stopwatch | Each block |
| Conditioning | Repeated effort test of your choice | Time or distance | Track, bike or rower | Each block |
Read results with the athlete
Compare each athlete with their own last result first. A squad average tells you where the group sits. It does not tell you what is right for one person.
Jones, Till, Manley and McGuigan describe a case with three rugby league academy players. Coaches and each athlete ranked the importance of each test. Results were shown as raw values and Z-scores against published data. Their paper is in the Leeds Beckett repository.
Score the results
Use the strength standards and the one rep max calculator to put lifts in context. The boxing conditioning page covers conditioning markers.
Where Trainersight fits
Trainersight keeps each athlete's bests and effort in one record. The last result is always on screen.
Get the Word and PDF files
Trainersight is not open to new coaches yet. Try the sample dashboard, or leave your details and hear when it opens.