Chapter 9: Performance Assessments

Question 1

What are 3 tests to assess explosive strength?

Answer 1

Vertical jump

Standing broad jump

Single-leg broad jump

Question 2

What is the vertical jump ideal for assessing?

Answer 2

Any athlete who jumps in their sport

Question 3

Who does the standing broad jump apply to?

Answer 3

Any athlete who cuts, stops, and starts and uses full-body explosive movements

Question 4

Who does the single-leg broad jump apply to?

Answer 4

Applies to any athlete who cuts, stops, and starts and uses full-body explosive movements

Question 5

What is an eccentric action followed immediately by a concentric action within the same muscle?

Answer 5

The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC)

Question 6

What do plyometrics train?

Answer 6

The stretch-shortening cycle

Question 7

What is reactive strength?

Answer 7

The result of training the stretch-shortening cycle

A person’s ability to quickly transition between eccentric and concentric muscle actions

Question 8

How is reactive strength measured?

Answer 8

By evaluating jump height relative to the contact time on the ground - specifically the depth jump

Question 9

What is the only plyometric exercise with measurable ground contact time? Who is it ideal for?

Answer 9

The depth jump

It’s ideal for athletes involved in any sport that requires rapid acceleration or changes of direction and agility (football, soccer, basketball, volleyball)

Question 10

What is strength endurance?

Answer 10

The muscular ability to produce force over extended periods of time (different from endurance)

Question 11

Why is strength endurance important?

Answer 11

Maintain strengths, speed, and power at the highest and most consistent level throughout a competition or game

Increases metabolic recovery between bouts of intense exercise

Question 12

What is the primary cause of fatigue during athletic competition? When is this not relevant?

Answer 12

A lack of strength endurance

Not as applicable when the sport requires actions lasting less than 10 seconds and when there’s an extended rest period between attempts (Olympic lifting})

Question 13

Why is adequate agility important?

Answer 13

It protects athletes from acute injury

Question 14

What three components can limit movement if normal biomechanics are disrupted

Answer 14

Strength, mobility, and motor control

Question 15

How does weakness limit movement?

Answer 15

Movement can’t occur if a muscle isn’t strong enough to overcome an opposing resistance

Question 16

How does a lack of motor control create a risk for joint pain and injury?

Answer 16

Impairs the fluidity and accuracy of movement

Question 17

How is motor control developed?

Answer 17

Through focused and step-wise practice to acquire new movement skills?

Question 18

What drills are used as performance assessments for acceleration, speed, and athletic performance?

Answer 18

Shuttle runs?

Question 19

What is a functional drill to measure lateral speed and agility? When it be used?

Answer 19

The lower-extremity functional test (LEFT)

As a performance assessment for healthy athletes

As a return-to-play assessment for athletes recovering from a lower-extremity injury

Question 20

What is the carioca step?

Answer 20

An agile crossover step where the leading foot steps across and behind the other and the lagging foot follows through