Testing and Profiling Athletes: Recommendations for Test Selection, Implementation, and Maximizing Information

Abstract

Understanding the physical qualities of athletes can lead to improved training prescription, monitoring, and ranking. Consequently, testing and profiling athletes is an important aspect of strength and conditioning. However, results can often be difficult to interpret because of the wide range of available tests and outcome variables, the diverse forms of technology used, and the varying levels of standardization implemented. Furthermore, physical qualities can easily be misrepresented without careful consideration if fundamental scientific principles are not followed. This review discusses how to develop impactful testing batteries so that practitioners can maximize their understanding of athletic development while helping to monitor changes in performance to better individualize and support training. It also provides recommendations on the selection of tests and their outcome measures; considerations for the proper interpretation, setup, and standardization of testing protocols; methods to maximize testing information; and techniques to enhance visualization and interpretation.

A survey into the current fitness testing practices of elite male soccer practitioners: from assessment to communicating results

“…This may be due to time availability as few competitions are held during this period, therefore offering the opportunity to conduct thorough, uninterrupted assessments. Furthermore, fitness testing early in pre-season establishes baseline fitness levels, which lays the foundation for performance goal setting, fatigue monitoring, and return-to-play processes ( Maestroni et al, 2023 ; Weakley et al, 2023 ). A large proportion of fitness testing was also conducted during mid-season, possibly due to competition breaks, with data being used to assess mid-term progress and inform training adjustments and prescriptions.…”

“…For example, research has shown differences in physical attributes (e.g., speed, power, strength, change of direction ability, and aerobic capacity) between starting vs. non-starting players ( Hoppe et al, 2020 ), senior vs. youth ( Cardoso De Araújo et al, 2018 ), and elite vs. non-elite players ( Kobal et al, 2016 ). Therefore, fitness testing is necessary to provide practitioners (e.g., strength and conditioning [S&C] coaches, sports scientists) with objective information on the physical capacity of individuals and teams, which can be used to benchmark players, design and evaluate individualized training programs, reduce injury risk, inform return-to-play processes, and contribute to talent identification ( Turner et al, 2011 ; Taylor et al, 2022 ; Weakley et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Typically, soccer fitness testing batteries include aerobic capacity, linear speed, strength, power, reactive strength, change of direction (COD), and repeated sprint ability (RSA) tests ( Turner et al, 2011 ; Taylor et al, 2022 ). To navigate the uncertainty of the testing selection process, practitioners must select tests that measure the intended capacity (validity) and ensure results are representative of the athlete’s ability (reliability) ( McGuigan, 2016 ; Weakley et al, 2023 ). Furthermore, tests should be sensitive enough to detect small but meaningful changes in performance to demonstrate players’ physical progress ( Paul and Nassis, 2015 ).…”

Longitudinal changes in anthropometric, physiological, and physical qualities of international women’s rugby league players

“…The longitudinal quantification of elite women’s rugby league players anthropometric, physiological, and physical attributes are needed to establish normative standards for pre- and in-season periods. These standards can be used in athlete profiling, identifying strengths and weaknesses, performance monitoring, and talent identification strategies [ 13 ]. Therefore, the aim of this study is to use valid, and reliable testing measures to quantify changes in body composition, blood markers, energy requirements, strength, and aerobic capacity of women’s international rugby league players over three testing points in the lead up to the 2022 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).…”

Do you have a good all-around view? Evaluation of a decision-making skills diagnostic tool using 360° videos and head-mounted displays in elite youth soccer

“…One core challenge for the (i) development of a decision-making skills diagnostic tool is the ecological validity addressing the question “[h]ow well a test relates to actual sporting performance and matches the athletes real sporting context” ( 8 , p. 4). Here, both the type of response capturing (e.g., motor vs. verbal responses) and the type of stimulus presentation are relevant ( 9 , 10 ).…”