Part 2 - Testing Performance Variables: When, What, and Where?
What to Test?
Last article introduced the idea of performance testing with regard to the reasoning for it and when to do it (Click here to read Part 1 ). This article is going to touch on WHAT to test. Known as “combines” in major sports, these battery of tests measure performance variables that are thought to indicate one’s athletic potential. For example, the NFL has a sport combine that measures speed, power, power endurance, and strength with a battery of tests including: the 40 yard dash, vertical jump, bench press reps, broad jump, 3 cone shuttle, 20 yard shuttle, and 60 yard shuttle. The NBA also has a combine, which includes: vertical, bench press reps, agility, and sprint.
What About Volleyball?
There has been much debate about sport performance variables and testing them to reflect volleyball sport performance. Obviously, there is one variable that can all be agreed upon, and that is the vertical jump touch height. Coaches want their players to “play above the net” with aggressiveness and physicality at a level equal to or greater than their opponents.
What other variables are indicators of volleyball athleticism? A few are listed here, and I would love some feedback on this:
1. Vertical jump touch height – approach
2. Standing reach
3. Block jump (two hand touch from no approach)
4. Power clean or hang clean (record top speed, average over 5 reps, and weight used)
5. Squat
6. Pull-up (reps)
7. 5 jump count repeated mat jumps (counts how fast athlete can get off ground and calculates how high the can leap with minimal contact)
8. Body Composition
9. T drill
10. Radar gun – speed of spike
11. Radar gun – speed of serve
12. Underhand med-ball throw (two hands)
13. Overhead med-ball throw (two hands)
14. Side rotational med-ball throw(two hands)
15. Cricket ball throw (distance)
16. Shuffle drill
17. 300 yard shuttle drill (25 yard increments)
