FITNESS ASSESSMENT OF SOCCER PLAYERS

The aim of a conditioning program is to develop and enhance the various components of fitness that
should correspond to an improved performance on the pitch. As a coach, it is critical to know if the
program you have implemented is effective, and conducting fitness assessment tests at the beginning and
at appropriate points throughout the training year will aid in this objective. In addition, results gathered at
the start of the season can be used to i) identify specific areas of weaknesses on an individual and team
basis; and ii) establish target goals to be achieved by set points in the season.

TEST SELECTION

A very important question to ask yourself before conducting a fitness assessment on your players should
be: "what tests should I use and why?" Fitness assessment tests are designed to measure a particular
component of athletic performance. For example, the 12-minute run is a very common test used to assess
aerobic capacity. Because each test assesses a different characteristic, it is important that you choose a
variety of tests that will allow you comprehensively assess your players. As discussed earlier in this
chapter, the fitness components of soccer are multiple and range from balance and flexibility to anaerobic
and aerobic endurance.

Regardless of the tests chosen however, they need to meet certain requirements: they must be i) valid and
ii) reliable. Validity is the degree to which a test measures what it is supposed to. Ensure that the test you
select is specific for the element of conditioning you are evaluating. For instance, the 12-minute run is a
good indicator of aerobic capacity, but poorly assesses lower body power. Tests also need to be reliable
and therefore able to produce accurate results consistently. Tests that give inconsistent results are no good
to the conditioning coach and can actually be counterproductive. To ensure reliability, the test should be
administered using the same protocol, with the same equipment, under similar conditions and ideally with
the same tester on each occasion. More information on test administration is given at the end of this
section.

Multiple fitness assessment tests exist to evaluate the various components of soccer fitness. Some
however, require bulky and complicated equipment that only qualified testers can administer. Many youth
and amateur coaches do not have access to or the knowledge to conduct such tests. For these coaches,
choosing tests that are relatively simple to conduct yet valid and reliable is the main priority. The tests
presented below are valid (for the component of conditioning listed) and reliable, provided they are
administered appropriately. Importantly, they are all easy to conduct in that they do not require
complicated or expensive equipment and can be administered in the average-sized gym or on a regular
playing field.