Fitness Testing Policy
Introduction to the NPUA Fitness Testing Policy
Hockey is becoming a faster game with younger participants, who at this elite level are
sometimes full-time athletes, and rules changes have helped speed up the game. The NPUA
membership is the elite, ie highest umpiring performers, in the country, umpiring the National
League and other major domestic events at the top of the game in England. For fitness levels
commensurate with this level of hockey, respected by players and other umpiring groups, it is
important that NPUA umpires pass annual fitness testing.
Information on fitness for umpiring can be found at:
http://www.fih.ch/files/Sport/Umpires/Umpires%20Fitness%20Training%20Manual.pdf
Contents
Introduction to the NPUA Fitness Testing Policy .................................................................... 1
Who needs to take the Fitness Test ? .................................................................................. 2
When is the Fitness Test ? .................................................................................................. 2
What is the NPUA fitness test ? ........................................................................................... 2
The Multi-Stage Fitness Test ( “the Bleep Test”) ...................................................................................... 2
The Cooper Test ........................................................................................................................................ 3
What if an umpire misses the Test at Conference ? ............................................................... 3
What happens in the event of unforeseen circumstances ? .................................................... 4
#
Date
Description
Owner
Status
0.1
1.0
Jun 2013
Jul 2013
Initial Draft
First Issue to Website
Val Sassall
NPUA Exec
For review
Approved
Page 1 of 4
Fitness Testing Policy
Who needs to take the Fitness Test ?
All Level 3 umpires in the National Programme should prove their fitness annually through the
satisfactory completion of a fitness test : a requirement of maintaining the EHB Level 3 Umpire
Award. A Level 3 Umpire Candidate must pass the fitness test to enable them to be nominated
for assessment by their region through EHB to the NPUA.
When is the Fitness Test ?
The NPUA tests the umpires’ physical fitness annually at the NPUA Conference. The vast
majority of active umpires take the test together at the Conference –it’s a great team building
exercise, and colleagues support each other to achieve their best.
What is the NPUA fitness test ?
The Multi-Stage Fitness Test ( “the Bleep Test”)
The Bleep Test, as used by the FIH, is the Association’s preferred test method for Premier and
A* (= Premier Development indoors) panel umpires and any umpire aspiring to promotion to
these panels ahead of any assessments.
The Bleep Test involves running continuously between two points which are 20m apart. These
runs are synchronized with a pre-recorded audio which plays beeps at set intervals. The umpire
must cross the line the opposite end of the run before the next beep sounds. As the test
proceeds, the interval between each successive beep reduces, forcing the umpire to increase
their speed over the course of the test, until it is impossible to keep up with the recording. One
level is allowed to beep before the umpire makes the line, so if they do not make the next
interval beep then the most recent level they completed is their final score. The progression
from one level to the next is signalled by 3 quick beeps. The highest level attained before failing
to keep up is recorded as the score for that test.
The Bleep Test is used to estimate an athlete’s VO2 max (maximum oxygen uptake). Values of
VO2 max are typically 40-60% higher in men than in women. This difference is due to the
variance in body weight and lean body mass between men and women. Men’s hearts and lungs
are typically larger and able to work at a harder rate. VO2 max scores can improve with training
and decrease with age… hence why there are different levels to pass as you get older.
Prem, A* / Prem A Umpires
Umpire aged under 30
Umpire aged under 40
Umpire aged over 40
All other umpires & L3 candidates
Male
10
9
8
7.5
Female
9
8
7
6.5
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Fitness Testing Policy
The Cooper Test
The alternative fitness test in use is the Cooper Test. The Cooper Test was originally designed
for the US Military and the point of the test is simply to run as far as possible within 12 minutes.
The test is meant to measure the condition of the person taking it and therefore is supposed to
be run at a steady pace.
Minimum Distance Target
FIH Level
NPUA Level
Male
2500m
2150m
Female
2300m
1900m
It is more usual that an umpire will able to get use of a hockey pitch than a 400m running track
to run a Cooper Test. For a full-size outdoor hockey pitch and running around the side and
back lines, the following distances can be reached:
Number of “pitch laps”
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
9.0
9.5
Meters
1900
2050
2200
2350
2500
2650
2800
What if an umpire misses the Test at Conference ?
If it is not possible for an umpire to attend the annual NPUA Conference, umpires must seek
permission to have their test assessed by an approved fitness assessor prior to taking the test.
The request for approval must be emailed to both the NPUA Chairman and the NPUA
Secretary. The test will not count unless the umpire has a confirmation from either of these
Officers ahead of the test date.
Fitness test results (signed by the approved tester) must be submitted to the NPUA
Membership Secretary by the deadline. This information is then input into the NPUA website
and appears when appointments are drafted and for selectors reviewing performance.
The Fitness Test should be completed between 1st July and 10th September for each
season, if the umpire is in the outdoor programmes, and by 10th October ONLY if the umpire
is in the indoor programme but NOT the outdoor programme.
Umpires without a fitness test cannot be assessed for promotion.
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Fitness Testing Policy
Please note: The test will not count if prior approval is not obtained. Testers who will be
approved will usually be an NPUA Selector, a member of the NPUA Executive, or the Coach of a
Premier EHL team, to ensure consistency of the testing.
Any umpire who has not notified the results of an approved fitness test to the NPUA
Membership Secretary by the required deadline will be demoted. Anyone submitting a test with
a lower standard than required by their current panel will be demoted to the Panel appropriate
to their fitness level.
No-one without a fitness test will be selected to umpire in the Premier division by EHUSP.
What happens in the event of unforeseen circumstances ?
If an umpire, who is already operating within the National Programme suffers an injury or has
medical reasons either of which prevents them from completing the Fitness Test but wishes to
continue umpiring at this level, the umpire must provide documentation from their General
Practitioner or Specialist that confirms that the injury / medical restriction prevents them from
completing that test but that it does not affect their fitness to operate as an umpire at this
level. This should be provided to the NPUA Chairman.
Any exception circumstances will be reviewed by the NPUA Chairman to make an appropriate
suggestion for ratification by the Executive.
Only the NPUA Executive may approve any variation to this Fitness Testing Policy.
Page 4 of 4