U14 – Fitness Testing
Reasons for Assessments
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A Functional screen can be used to assess competence in general dynamic
movements.
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A Fitness assessment can identify general capacities of agility, endurance,
flexibility, speed, strength and power, and relate these to body composition.
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Assessments are therefore used to;
– Establish each player’s strengths, weaknesses and priorities for
development
– Help maximise the sports potential of each player
– Monitor team/player fitness progress
– Determine the effectiveness of the training programme
– Monitor individual player response to training/playing
– Ensure that a player is ‘fit to play’
Analysis and Interpretation
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Meaningful changes should be highlighted
Compare percentage differences
Comparisons within positions may be useful
Compare results with benchmark data (see final slides)
Provide individual feedback to players in the form of a hard
copy of their results
• Realistic individual targets should be set for each player
using their scores
Recommendations for U-14s
• The following tests are recommended for U-14s:
– Physical (Height & Weight)
– Strength (Vertical Jump/Medicine Ball Throw)
– Speed (10 & 20 m Sprint)
– Agility (10 m T-Test)
– Endurance (Multistage-Shuttle Test)
– Flexibility (Sit & Reach Box)
– Start to build a test profile for each player
• * Each county can decide which tests they feel most appropriate. What
is most important is the strategy that is put in place to effect change.
• See resource information for Test Protocols
E.g. Team Summary Football U16
N = 44
E.g. Team Summary Hurling U16
N = 33