Chapter 7

Test and Measurement in Sports

Motor Fitness Test-AAHPER
The AAHPER (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation) youth
fitness test was formed in 1965 in the United States, but this was revised in 1976. Now
dance (AAHPERD) is also added. This test was administered on school students of 17
years age. The students are advised to warm up before they participate in the test. All
the students must be medically fit.

Motor Fitness Test Meaning

Motor fitness refers to the capability of an athlete to take part effectively in his/her
particular sport.it can also be said that a person’s ability to do physical activities. The
following test items are:

1.50 M STANDING START

Purpose: To determine speed

Equipment’s Required: measuring tape or marked track, 2 stop watches.
Procedure: An area of 50 m is marked on a track. Two parallel lines are drawn 50 m
apart considering one as the starting line. The subject takes the starting position behind
the starting line. The starter commands ‘Ready’ and ‘Go’. The word Go is accompanied
by a downward sweep of the starters arm as a signal to the timer. Two subjects can run
at the same time if there are two stopwatches. The score is recorded in seconds.

2. 600 M RUN/WALK

Purpose: To Measure Endurance

Equipment’s Required: 600 m track and stop watches.
Procedure: The subject takes the position of standing right behind the starting line.at
the signal of ready and go the subject starts running. During the course of running
he/she may walk also. Many students can run at a same time, time is recorded in
minutes and seconds.

3.SIT AND REACH

Purpose: The sit-and –reach test is a significant test to measure the flexibility of hip
region including the lower back and hamstring muscles.
Equipment Requirement: sit and reach box or a makeshift ruler and a box may be
used in which the zero mark can be adjusted for each individual according to their sitting
reach level because there is a variation of lengths of individual’s arms and legs.
Procedure: - first of all, should be removed. Then sit down on the floor with legs
stretched out straight ahead. The soles of the feet should be kept flat against the box.
Both the knees should be locked and pressed flat to the floor.an assistant may hold the
knees down. Palm should be facing downwards. Hand should be on top of the each
other or side by side. The individual, whose flexibility is to be measured tries to extend
his/her both hands forward along the measuring line on the box as far as he/she can
extend. Scoring: the score is recorded to the nearest centimeter or half inches based on
the distance reached by the fingertips of both hands.

4.PARTIAL CURL UP

Purpose: to test the strength and endurance of abdominal muscles.

Equipment’s required: a flat clean and cushioned surfaced, recording sheet and pen.
Procedure: first of all, the complete test procedure is explained to the subject. After that
the subject lies in supine on cushioned surface the knees should be flexed and feet
should be 12 inches from the buttocks. Both the feet’s should be slightly apart. Arms are
extended and rested on thighs. Head should be in neutral position. This is the starting
position. Then, the subject curls up with a slow controlled movement, until his/her
shouldered come off the cushioned surface or mat two inches then back down again.
Scoring: record the total no of partial curl ups. It should not be counted if the shoulders
are not raised up by two inches.

5.PUSH UPS (BOYS)

Purpose: To test or measure the upper body strength and endurance. Equipment
Required: A floor mat and a paper to record basic information such as age, gender and
total number of push-ups performed.
Procedure: After proper warming up, ask the subject to take position. In a push up
position hands and toes should touch the mat/floor. Hands should be shoulder width
apart. The upper body and legs should be in a straight line. Elbows should be fully
extended keeping the back and keens straight, the subject lowers the upper body so
that elbows may bend to 90 degrees or chest may touch the mat /floor, then returns
back to the starting position with the arms extended.

6.MODIFIED PUSH- UPS (GIRLS)

Purpose: To measure the upper body strength and endurance.

Equipment required: A mat and paper to record the basic information like age, gender
and push-ups performed.
Procedure: the subject is asked to take starting positions, for modified push-ups hands
and knees should touch the mat/floor. Both hands should be shoulder width apart and
elbows fully extended. The body from the knees, to the hips and to the shoulders should
be in a straight line. While keeping this position, the subject should lower her upper
body, so that elbows may bend to 90 degrees. Then the subject returns back to the
starting position. Count the total number of modified push-ups for record.

7. STANDING BROAD JUMP

Purpose: To measure explosive strength/ power of legs.
Equipment required: A sandy long jump pit and a measuring steel tape.
Procedure: A take-off line is marked on the ground. Subject stands just behind the
take-off line with the feet several inches apart. The subject swings the arms and bends
the knees to take a jump in the long jump pit. The measurement is noted in feet and
inches.

8. 4 × 10 M SHUTTLE RUN

Purpose: To measure agility Equipment required: Two wooden blocks, marker cones,
measuring tape, stopwatch and a flat surface with two lines 10 m apart. Procedure:
Mark two parallel lines 3 meters in length, 10 meters apart using marking tape or cones,
considering one line as starting line. On the signal ‘go’ the subject runs to the wooden
blocks, lifts one block, returns to the starting line and places the block behind the line.
Then the subject returns to the second block, lifts it and then runs across the starting
line on the way back.
Scoring: Record the best time to complete the test in seconds.

Measurement of Cardiovascular Fitness

Cardiovascular fitness is the ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen, rich blood
to the working muscle tissues and the ability of the muscles to use oxygen to produce
energy for movements. This type of fitness is required to sustain physical activity and is
essential for performing aerobic activities.

1. Harvard Step Test

This test is also known as Aerobic Fitness test. It was developed by Brouha and others
in 1943. It is used to measure the cardiovascular fitness or aerobic fitness by checking
the recovery rate.
Equipment Required Bench 20 inches high, for men and 16 inches for women,
stopwatch and metronome.

2. Rockport Test
This test also known as Rockport One Mile Test or Rockport Fitness Walking Test is
used for testing cardiovascular fitness. It requires minimal equipment. This test consists
of walking, which may be easy for middle-aged and older adults. This test tells us about
the aerobic fitness of an individual.
Equipment Required 400m track, stopwatch and weighing scale.

Computation of Fitness Index

Fitness index is computed using the following formula
Rikli and Jones- Senior Citizen Fitness Test
Rikli and Jones prepared various physical fitness tests for senior citizens in 2001.
Senior citizens can’t do exhaustive workouts however fitness is very important even in
old age.

These tests are designed to access the functional fitness of older adults with the help of
simple activities like getting up from a chair, walking, bending and stretching. These
tests are safe, enjoyable and meet scientific standards of reliability and validity. That is
why easy tests prepared for different body parts are given.
These are

1. Chair Stand Test for Lower Body Strength

The Chair Stand Test is similar to a squat test to measure leg strength. This test is part
of the senior fitness test protocol and is designed to test the functional fitness of seniors.

• Purpose This test assesses leg strength and endurance of senior citizens.
• Equipment Required A straight or folding chair without arm rests (seat 17 inches/
44 cm high) and stopwatch.

2. Arm Curl Test for Upper Body Strength

The Arm Curl Test is a test to measure the upper body strength of senior citizens or old
people.

• Purpose This test measures upper body strength and endurance.

• Equipment Required 5 pound weight for women, 8 pound weight for men, a chair
without arm rests, stopwatch.

3. Chair Sit and Reach Test for Lower Body Flexibility

The Chair Sit and Reach Test is part of-the senior fitness test protocol, and is designed
to test the functional fitness of seniors. It is a variation of the traditional sit and reach .
flexibility test.

• Purpose This test measures lower body. – flexibility.

• Equipment Required Ruler, a chair with straight back or folding chair (17 inch/44
cm high).

4. Back Scratch Test for Upper Body Flexibility

The shoulder stretch is a simple flexibility test to determine if the hands can be brought
together behind the back particularly the shoulders. This test is part of the fitness
programme as an alternative to the back saver sit and reach test.

• Purpose This test measures upper arm and shoulder girdle flexibility.
• Equipment Required None.
5. Eight Foot Up and Go Test for Agility
The Eight Foot Up arid Go Test is a coordination and agility test ‘for the elderly-which is
pair of the senior fitness test protocol.

• Purpose This test measures speed, agility and balance while moving.
• Equipment Required Stopwatch, straight back or folding chair ( seat 17 inches/44
height) cone/marker, measuring tape, area clear of obstacles.

6. Six Minute Walk test for Aerobic Endurance

The Six Minute Walk Test is a part, of the senior fitness test protocol arid is designed to
test the functional fitness of seniors. It is an adaptation of the Cooper 12 – minutes run
for people who use orthopaedic devices When walking as well as people who have
difficulty in balancing.

• Purpose This test measures aerobic fitness or aerobic endurance.

• Equipment Required Measuring tape to mark out the track distances, stopwatch
arid chairs positioned for testing.