TESTING FOR FIELD AND MULTI-EVENTS ATHLETES
by Bob Myers.

Provided by: Eddie Seese (PERSONAL RECORD TRACK AND FIELD)  Revised:  22 Oct. 04

        In the past. I have tested my athletes using one or a combination of the following tables: jumps decathlon, throws decathlon, power pentathlon and the IAAF tables for men or women (commonly called the Portugese Tables). As many coaches, I coach jumpers, throwers, and multi-eventers. Using combinations of these tables led to inconsistent scoring and unfairness to one group of athletes or another. This new table, I feel, is fair to all groups as it consists of three throws, four jumps and four runs.

        Many years ago I began developing a hybrid table which would be fair to throwers, jumpers, and multi-eventers when
administered to the group as a whole.

I have used these hybrid tables to identify talent of  incoming athletes, but more definitively to evaluate training and determine conditioning levels. When an athlete returns from summer vacation, I administer this test to quantify their conditioning level and determine if they trained as they were supposed to while on vacation.

With the incoming athletes, I can evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.  This evaluation will help me develop their upcoming training program. With the returning athletes, I can compare their level of conditioning to their level of the previous year, and to their highest levels.

If a returnee has been consistent with the previous year's training, I see a 3 to 5% increase in their score or conditioning level per year. If the athlete has been injured or has not been diligent with their year-round training, the level may be increase less than 3% or may even show 
negative progress. Additionally, another possibility is that your workouts may not be working for this athlete.

        I also use this test during recovery microcycles (weeks) every one or two mesocycles (4 or 8 weeks) to evaluate training. If the athlete is training correctly and consistently, there should be a 1-3% improvement every two mesocycles of training. I administer this test over a two day period and usually combine it with two days of weight training testing over a week long period (one microcycle). Since testing is much easier than normal training, this doubles as a recovery or unloading week.

PROCEDURES

        As stated above, I break this testing into five events each day, either back to back days or with one day in between of weight testing or rest.

        To insure validity of testing, pay attention to consistency of timing, measuring, and officiating on the whole. Improper testing techniques can lead to an improper evaluation on one or a group of athletes. I would also recommend using the same facility, officials, and equipment to insure consistency.

        Before the testing, make sure the athletes complete a thorough, static, and dynamic warm-up and practice the event technique for
several trials before the testing begin. For testing, allow two trials in each event.

EVENT PROCEDURES

1. 30m standing start - this is an indicator of leg power and the ability to accelerate. The athletes can use spikes.  The watch begins when the rear foot leaves the ground and ends when the torso crosses the finish line. The front foot cannot be in contact with the starting line, but the upper body may be inclined over the line.
2. Standing Long Jump - (SLJ) .- this is an indicator of leg power.  Again, spikes can be used. The athlete begins on the edge of the long jump runway and jumps into the sand. (The sand should be level with the take-off area). The feet are together and the arms are used to add distance to the jump.  Distances are measured in meters and are taken from the toes to the point in the sand closest to take-off  board. I do not allow the athletes to put their toes over the edge for additional push-off.
3. Twenty five meter speed hop - this is an indicator of leg power, acceleration, and Coordination. The athlete (using spikes, if desired), hops on one leg as fast as possible over 25 meters.  To start, the athlete gets a rock step into the start. The time begins when the hop foot (usually the dominant leg) comes off the ground behind the start line.  If the athlete is hopping on the right leg, they can start with the weight on there left leg and then rock into the start. The time stops when the torso crosses the 25 meter line.
4. Underhand Backward Shot Throw - this indicates total body power or girls and women, use a 4 Kg shot; for high school boys a 12 lb. shot; and college men a 16 lb. shot. The athlete stands on the shot toe board with feet shoulder width apart, facing towards the back of the ring. The athlete grasps the shot with both hands and flexes into a squatting position (back straight, legs bent), then explosively extends the legs and throws the shot with arms extended over the head and into the sector. Safety is always a prerequisite in this event. The athlete can follow through and land in the sector.  Measurements are made in meters from the inside of the toe board to the mark in the sector.
5. One Hundred Fifty Meters Standing Start - this indicates top speed and speed endurance. This is done in spikes and is timed as the 30 meters standing start test. For consistency, I'd recommend the athletes always run in lanes 2-4.
6. Fly 30 Meters - indicator of top speed this is done in spikes with a 20-30 meter acceleration zone. Time begins when the athlete crosses the line denoting the beginning of 30 meters. It's useful to have an official stand at this line who drops her/his arm when the athlete crosses the line. The athlete should be at roughly top speed when she/ he crosses the 30m start line.
7. Standing Triple Jump (STJ) - this is an indicator of leg power, acceleration and coordination.  The athletes can use spikes and jumps from the runway into the pit. Metric measurements are made from the toe (at the start) to the closest mark in the sand.  The athletes may start where they like on the runway as long as long as they land in the pit. The athlete can start from a single or double leg position going into the hop. The official must be aware to catch the starting location of the athlete since it may vary due to ability. 
8. Overhead Forward Shot Throw - an indicator of total body power and upper body strength and flexibility. The weights of the shots are as explained in # 4. The athlete faces the landing area and executes a two handed overhand throw with the same technique as a soccer throw in. The athlete  begins in the shot ring and can follow through out of the shot ring. Again, safety must be a prerequisite.
9. Football Throw -this indicates arm speed and throwing technique. The football is thrown from a javelin runway behind the foul line. The football is used instead of the softball because of its similarities to the javelin release. Distance is measured in metric.
10. 600 meters - this indicates speed endurance and anaerobic capacity. This is run on the track and timed as the 30 meters.

CONCLUSION

    While using this test, I have had several college women score over 6,000 points and I, as an ex-decathlete, scored over 7,500. 1 feel over 6,000 is an exceptional mark for a college female. Those scoring the highest tend to be multi-eventers, triple Jumpers and javelin throwers.  For a female shot or discus thrower, over 5,000 points would be excellent in surveying the limited population I've tested.

    For men, I would say Over 8, 000 points would be excellent with over 7,500 being excellent for Shot and discus throwers.

    I have not tested high school populations, but I foresee over 5,000 as being good for a female and over 7,000 good for a male.

    I feel this test is very valid in evaluating field and multi- eventers as a whole. It also tends to be very motivational. The athletes are constantly trying to beat there teammates, but more importantly, trying to beat their previous best.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Boosey, Allan. The Jumps - Conditioning and Technical Training. Beatrice Publishing, Ltd., Victoria, Australia, 1980.

IAAF, Scoring Table for Men's Track and Field Events. Published by the IAAF, London, 1977 edition.

IAAF, Scoring Table for Women's Track and Field Events. Published by the IAAF, London, 1977 edition.

Johnson, Carl.  Throws Decathlon Tables.

Jones, Max. Tests - Quadrathlon for Throws

Paish, Wilt.  The Throws Decathlon.

Paish, Wilt  Jumps Decathlon Tables

Paish, Wilt  Power Pentathlon Tables