Screening, Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

Screening Tests

Screening tests to be performed:

Skin fold measurements

Aerobic capacity = Cooper Test

Anaerobic capacity = Flying Start 30m

Strength testing = 1RM: Bench Press, Leg Press, Back Squat, Lat Pull Down & Power Clean

Power testing = Vertical Jump

Screening tests should be conducted:

-          at the beginning of the preparatory phase

-          the middle of the preparatory phase

-          prior to competition phase

-          end of the season

(Gabbett, Jenkins & King, 2008)

Feedback to the Coach

Following the off-season programme that was prescribed for this player, several improvements have been observed. Firstly, the player has increased his 1RM by at least 10% for all 1RM tests (bench press, leg press, back squat, latt pull down and power clean). 

Circumference of the arm and thighs has increased and body fat percentage has decreased showing that muscle hypertrophy has taken place. This hypertrophy may either be as a result of increased muscle fibre size or an increase in the number of muscle fibres in the area.

The player’s balance on both his injured and non-injured ankle has considerably improved and he is now capable of performing most proprioception exercises to a good standard. Physiologically, this means that the mechanoreceptors at the ankle are now relaying information about joint positioning more effectively to the brain. Feedback from the club’s physiotherapist shows that the previously injured ankle is now much more stable and the surrounding musculature is stronger than before the start of the off-season.

Hamstring flexibility has increased by 10-20 degrees when using the straight leg raise test. This, along with the introduction of nordic curls into the player's training programme will hopefully reduce the incidence of hamstring strains.

(Bompa, & Claro, 2009; Lear, Brozic, Myers & Ignaszewski, 1999).