U15 – Fitness Testing

Reasons for Assessments A Functional screen can be used to assess competence in general dynamic movements. A Fitness assessment can identify general capacities of agility, endurance, flexibility, speed, strength and power, and relate these to body composition. Assessments are therefore used to; –Establish each player’s strengths, weaknesses and priorities for development –Help maximise the sports potential of each player –Monitor team/player fitness progress –Determine the effectiveness of the training programme –Monitor individual player response to training/playing –Ensure that a player is ‘fit to play’

Analysis and Interpretation Meaningful changes should be highlighted Compare percentage differences Comparisons within positions may be useful Compare results with benchmark data (see final slides) Provide individual feedback to players in the form of a hard copy of their results Realistic individual targets should be set for each player using their scores

Recommendations for U-15s The following tests are recommended for U-15s: –Physical (Height & Weight) –Strength (Vertical Jump & Medicine Ball Throw) –Speed (10 & 20 m Sprint) –Agility (10 m T-Test) –Endurance (Multistage-Shuttle Test) –Flexibility (Sit & Reach Box) –Look at each players test profile to establish trends * Each county can decide which tests they feel most appropriate. What is most important is the strategy that is put in place to effect change. See resource information for Test Protocols

E.g. Team Summary Football U16 N = 44

E.g. Team Summary Hurling U16 N = 33