CHAPTER6

TEST AND MEASUREMENT IN SPORTS

TEST: A test is supposed to be able to measure learning outcomes or in other words testing
is one of the powerful tools to measure students’ abilities as well as enhance their attitudes
towards learning.
MEASUREMENT: The process or the act of measurement consists of obtaining a quantitative
comparison between predefined Standards.
Importance of test and measurement
● To predict potential performance.
● Motivate athletes.
● To do research.
● To study the development of athletes.
● Measuring the current potential.
● To achieve objectives and
goals.
SAI KHELO INDIA FITNESS
TEST :-
AGE GROUP (5-8) Years Class
1-3
BMI ( Body Mass Index)

Purpose: To measure Body composition(body fat).

Equipment: Flat clean surface, stadiometer for measuring height and a weighing machine.
It is calculated on the basis of weight and height. It helps a person to know whether he is
underweight, overweight or normal weight. BMI provides the ideal body weight as per the height
of a person.
Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet has invented this formula of BMI that is why it is also
known as Quetelet index.
BMI of any individual can be calculated with the help of the following formula:
Body Mass Index (BMI)= Body weight (in kg)
Height(meter)× Height (meter)
Here the weight of an individual is measured in kilograms and the Height of that individual is
taken in meters.
BMI Table
BMI is categorized below:
S.NO CATEGORY BMI

1 Underweight <18.5

2 Normal weight 18.5 to 24.9

3 Overweight 25 to 29.9

4 Obesity class 1 30 to 34.9

5 Obesity class 2 35 to 39.9

6 Obesity class 3 >40

Example 1: Calculate the BMI of a male person whose body weight is 80 kg and his height is
1.60 m. Also state the category in which he falls?
Solution:
Body weight = 80 kg
Height = 1.60 m
BMI = Weight (in Kg)
Height (Meter)× Height (Meter)
= 80÷1.60 × 1.60
=31.25
He falls into obesity Type I.
Precautions:
1. Try to wear the minimum clothes required.
2. During the measurement of height one must be barefooted.
Flamingo Balance Test

Purpose: To measure the balance on a single leg that assesses strength of leg, pelvic, and trunk
muscles.
Equipment: Non slippery even surface and a stopwatch .
Procedure:
Stand on the beam. Keep balance by holding the instructor's hand (if required to start).
While balancing on the preferred leg, the free leg is flexed at the knee and the foot of this leg
held close to the buttocks.
Scoring:The total number of falls or loss of balance in 60 seconds of balancing is recorded. If
there are more than 15 falls in the first 30 seconds, the test will be terminated.
Pause the stopwatch each time the subject loses balance (either by falling off the beam or letting
goes of the foot being held).
PLATE TAPPING TEST

Purpose: To measure the speed and cootdination of limb movement.

Equipment: Table (adjustable height), 2 yellow discs (20cm diameter), rectangle (30 x 20 cm),
stopwatch. Procedure:
The table should be placed at a height so that the subject can stand comfortably in front of
the discs. The two yellow discs are placed with their centers 60 cm apart on the table. The
rectangle is placed equidistant between both discs.
The non-preferred hand is placed on the rectangle.
The subject moves the preferred hand back and forth between the discs over the hand in the
middle as quickly as possible.
This action is repeated for 25 full cycles (50 taps).
Scoring:- The time taken to complete 25 cycles is recorded.
AGE GROUP (9 -18+) Years Class - 4 to 12
BMI ( Body Mass Index)
Already explained under the heading of age group (3-8)
50 M Standing start
Purpose: To measure the speed and acceleration.
Equipment: Stopwatch, cone markers and marked flat surface of at least 70m.
Procedure: After the warm up, the student should stand on the marked line in standing position
and run a single Sprint covering 50 m. Every student will be given 2 trails and the best time is
recorded nearest to 2 decimal places.
Note: The timing starts from the first movement and finishes when the torso crosses the finish
line.
Scoring:- Time is measured to the nearest seconds. 2 trials are allowed.
600 M walk and run
Purpose: To measure endurance and aerobic fitness.
Equipment:- Stopwatch and marked area of 600 m.
Procedure: In this test, a subject or a student will take a standing start behind the starting line
and will run a distance of 600 m. The subject may walk in between but the objective is to cover
the distance in the shortest time possible.
Scoring: The time in minutes and seconds is recorded and will be
taken as a score.
Sit and reach test

Purpose: To measure the flexibility of the lower

back.
Equipment: Box, meter ruler and tape.
Procedure: Remove your shoes and sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you
with knees straight and feet flat against the front end of the test box.
In a slow, steady movement, lean forward at the hips, keep your knees straight and slide your
hand up the ruler as far as you can go. Record the result in cm.
Note: 3 trials will be given to record the best
one.
Scoring:- The distance covered is recorded to
the nearest centimetres.
Partial curl up
Purpose: To measure abdominal strength and endurance.
Equipment: Flat surface and mat.
Procedure: The starting position is lying on the back with the knees flexed and feet 12 inches
from the buttocks. The feet cannot be held or rested against an object. The head is in a neutral
position. The subject curls up with a slow controlled movement, until the student's shoulders
come off the mat two inches, then back down again. One complete curl-up is completed every
three seconds (1.5 seconds up and 1.5 seconds down, with no hesitation) till exhaustion.
Scoring :- Number of correctly performed curls up will be noted and only one trial is
permitted.
Push ups (Boys)

Purpose: To measure the strength of arms & chest.

Equipment:- Stopwatch.
Procedure: Push-up begins with the hands and toes touching the floor, the body and legs in a
straight line, feet slightly apart, the arms at shoulder width apart, the subject lowers the body
until there is a 90-degree angle at the elbows, then returns back to the starting position with the
arms extended. This action is repeated without rest, and the test continues until exhaustion.
Scoring:- 1 point for a complete push-up and only one trial is
permitted.
Modified push-up
Purpose: To measure the strength of arms & chest.
Equipment: Stop watch.
Procedure: Begin in a kneeling position on a mat with hands below shoulders and knees behind
hips and bend elbows to lower chest toward the floor.Press chest back up to start position.
Make sure to keep your spine long and straight and don’t stare down at the ground. When you
lower down, make sure those elbows get all the way to 90 degrees.
Scoring:- 1 point for a complete push-up and only one trial is
permitted.
Computing Basal Metabolic Rate ( CBMR )
It is the number of calories required to keep your body functioning at rest. Number of calories we
use or burn when our body is at rest and performing basal(basic) life sustaining function and this
calorie expenditure makes up about 60 to 70% of the total calorie expenditure. It includes the
activities like:-
★ Beating of heart
★ Cell production
★ Respiration
★ Blood circulation
★ Maintenance of body temperature
★ Processing Nutrients
Basal metabolic rate is commonly termed as resting metabolic rate (RMR). It is influenced by a
number of factors including age, weight, height, gender, environmental temperature, dieting and
exercise habits.
FORMULA FOR CALCULATING BMR
Harris–Benedict equation
Men
BMR = 66.5 + ( 13.76 × weight in kg ) + ( 5.003 × height in cm ) – ( 6.755 × age in years )
Women
BMR = 655 + ( 9.563 × weight in kg ) + ( 1.850 × height in cm ) – ( 4.676 × age in years )
Harris–Benedict equations revised by Roza and Shizgal in 1984.
Men
BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight in kg) + (4.799 × height in cm) - (5.677 × age in years)
Women
BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight in kg) + (3.098 × height in cm) - (4.330 × age in years)
Harris–Benedict equations revised by Mifflin and St Jeor in 1990.
Men
BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) + 5
Women
BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) - 161
Important fact:- It is to be tested or calculator when the body's digestive system has been
inactive for about 10-12 hours and the sympathetic nervous system is also inactive.
Rikli and Jones senior citizen fitness test
The Senior Fitness Test was developed as part of the Life Span Wellness Program at Fullerton
University, by Dr. Roberta Rikli and Dr. Jessie Jones in 2001. This test is sometimes known
as the Fullerton Functional Test. It is a simple, easy-to-use battery of test items that assess
the functional fitness of older adults.
1. Chair stand test

Purpose: To test the strength of lower body especially legs.

Equipment: A chair without arms and a straight back with at least 44 cm height and a stopwatch.
Procedure: Place the chair against a wall. The subject sits in the middle of the seat, with his feet
shoulder width apart, flat on the floor. The arms are to be crossed at the wrists and helyd close
to the chest. From the sitting position, the subject stands completely up, then completely back
down, and this is repeated for 30 seconds. Count the total number of complete chair stands (up
and down equals one stand). If the subject has completed a full stand from the sitting position
when the time is elapsed, the final stand is counted in the total.
Scoring: Total number of completed chair stand during 30 seconds is called score.

NORMS FOR MEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <14 14 to 19 >19

65-69 <12 12 to 18 >18

70-74 <12 12 to 17 >17

75-79 <11 11 to 17 >17

80-84 <10 10 to 15 >15

85-89 <8 8 to 14 >14

90-94 <7 7 to 12 >12

NORMS FOR WOMEN

 AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER
AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <12 12 to 17 >19

65-69 <11 11 to 16 >18

70-74 <10 10 to 15 >17

75-79 <10 10 to 15 >17

80-84 <9 9 to 14 >15

85-89 <8 8 to 13 >14

90-94 <4 4 to 12 >12

2. Arm curl test

Purpose: To measure upper body strength.
Equipment: 5 pound weight for women and 8 pound weight for men and a stopwatch with a
straight back chair having no arms.
Procedure:
The aim of this test is to do as many arm curls as possible in 30 seconds. This test is conducted
on the dominant arm side (or stronger side). The subject sits on the chair, holding the weight in
the hand using a suitcase grip (palm facing towards the body), Curl the arm up and down
through a full range of motion. The arm must be fully bent and then fully straightened at the
elbow. Repeat this action as many times as possible within 30 seconds.
Scoring: Total number of curls done in 30 seconds is the score.

NORMS FOR MEN

 AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER
AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <16 16 to 22 >22

65-69 <15 15 to 21 >21

70-74 <14 14 to 21 >21

75-79 <13 13 to 19 >19

80-84 <13 13 to 19 >19

85-89 <11 11 to 17 >17

90-94 <10 10 to 14 >14

NORMS FOR WOMEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <13 13 to 19 >19

65-69 <12 12 to 18 >18

70-74 <12 12 to 17 >17

75-79 <11 11 to 17 >17

80-84 <10 10 to 17 >17

85-89 <10 10 to 15 >15

90-94 <8 8 to 13 >13

3. Chair sit and reach test

Purpose: To evaluate the flexibility of the lower part of the body.
Equipment: 44 centimeter high chair with a straight back and a scale .
Procedure: The subject sits on the edge of a chair (placed against a wall for safety). One foot
must remain flat on the floor. The other leg is extended forward with the knee straight, heel on
the floor, and ankle bent at 90°. Place one hand on top of the other with tips of the middle
fingers even. Reach forward toward the toes by bending at the hip. Keep the back straight and
head up. Avoid bouncing or quick movements, and never stretch to the point of pain. Keep the
knee straight, and hold the reach for 2 seconds. The distance is measured between the tip of the
fingertips and the toes.
Scoring: If the fingertips touch the toes then the score is zero. If they do not touch, measure the
distance between the fingers and the toes (a negative score), if they overlap, measure by how
much (a positive score). 2 trials are permitted.

NORMS FOR MEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <-2.5 -2.5 to 4.0 >4.0

65-69 <-3.0 -3.5 to 3.0 >3.0

70-74 <-3.5 -3.0 to 2.5 >2.5

75-79 <-4.0 -4.0 to 2.0 >2.0

80-84 <-5.5 -5.5 to 1.5 >1.5

85-89 <5.5 -5.5 to 0.5 >0.5

90-94 <-6.5 -6.5 to 0.5 >0.5

NORMS FOR MEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-6 <-0.5 -0.5 to 5.0 >5.0

4

65-6 <-0.5 -0.5 to 4.5 >4.5

9

70-7 <-1.0 -1.0 to 4.0 >4.0

4
 75-7 <-1.5 -1.5 to 3.5 >3.5
9

80-8 <-2.0 -2.0 to 3.0 >3.0

4

85-8 <-2.5 -2.5 to 2.5 >2.5

9

90-9 <-0.5 -0.5 to 5.0 >5.0

4

4. Back scratch test

Purpose: To evaluate the upper body and shoulder flexibility.

Equipment: A ruler or tape measure.
Procedure:Place one hand over the same shoulder with the palm touching the back and reach
down the back.
Place the other hand up the back from the waist with the palm facing outwards. Reach up the
back. Try to touch the fingers of each hand in the middle of the back. Do grasp the fingers and
pull the hands together.
Scoring: Use the tape measure or ruler to measure the distance between the middle fingers.
If the fingers do not overlap the score has a negative value.
If the fingers overlap the score has a positive value.

NORMS FOR MEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAG AVERAGE
 E

60-6 >-6.5 -6.5 to 0 <0

4

65-6 >-7.5 -7.5 to 1.0 <-1.0

9

70-7 >-8.0 -8.0 to 1.0 <-1.0

4

75-7 >-9.0 -9.0 to 2.0 <-2.0

9

80-8 >-9.5 -9.5 to 2.0 <-2.0

4

85-8 >-10.0 -10.0 to 3.0 <-3.0

9

90-9 >-10.5 -10.5 to 4.0 <-4.0

4

NORMS FOR WOMEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 >-3.0 -3.0 to 1.5 <1.5

65-69 >-3.5 -3.5 to 1.5 <1.5

70-74 >-4.0 -4.0 to 1.0 <1.0

75-79 >-5.0 -5.0 to 0.5 <0.5

80-84 >-5.5 -5.5 to 0 <0

85-89 >-7.0 -7.0 to -1.0 <-1.0

90-94 >-8.0 -8.5 to -1.0 <-1.0

5. 8 foot up and go test

Purpose: To evaluate the speed, agility and balance.
Equipment: Stopwatch, cone marker and a chair with a back straight.
Procedure: place the cone marker at a distance of 8 feet from the chair, Sit in the middle of the
chair with hands on thighs. Both feet must be flat on the floor.
On the instruction to begin, stand up as quickly as possible. Walk around the marker, return to
the chair and sit down.
Scoring: Time taken to complete a round will be taken as a score.

NORMS FOR MEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 >5.6 5.6 to 3.8 <3.8

65-69 >5.7 5.7 to 4.3 <4.3

 70-74 >6.0 6.0 to 4.2 <4.2

75-79 >7.2 7.2 to 4.6 <4.6

80-84 >7.6 7.6 to 5.2 <5.2

85-89 >8.9 8.9 to 5.3 <5.3

90-94 >10.0 10.0 to 6.2 <6.2

NORMS FOR WOMEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 >6.0 6.0 to 4.4 <4.4

65-69 >6.4 6.4 to 4.8 <4.8

70-74 >7.1 7.1 to 4.9 <4.9

75-79 >7.4 7.4 to 5.2 <5.2

80-84 >8.7 8.7 to 5.7 <5.7

85-89 >9.6 9.6 to 6.2 <6.2

90-94 >11.5 11.5 to 7.3 <7.3

6. 6 minute walk test

Purpose: To evaluate aerobic endurance.

Equipment: Measuring tape and a stopwatch.
Procedure: The walking course is laid out in a 50 yard (45.72m) rectangular area (dimensions
45 x 5 yards), with cones placed at regular intervals to indicate distance walked. The tester has
to walk for six minutes to cover as much ground as possible and is free to set his own pace.
Scoring: Distance covered to the nearest meter during the period of 6 minute will be the
score.
NORMS FOR MEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <610 610 to 735 >735

65-69 <560 560 to 700 >700

70-74 <545 545 to 680 >680

75-79 <470 470 to 640 >640

80-84 <445 445to 605 >605

85-89 <380 380 to 570 >570

90-94 <305 305 to 500 >500

NORMS FOR WOMEN

AGE LOWER AVERAGE HIGHER

AVERAGE AVERAGE

60-64 <545 545 to 600 >660

65-69 <500 500 to 635 >635

70-74 <480 480 to 615 >615

75-79 <430 430 to 585 >585

80-84 <385 385 to 540 >540

85-89 <340 340 to 510 >510

90-94 <275 275 to 440 >440

Harvard Step Test

Harvard Step Test was developed by Lucien Brouha in 1943.
Purpose:It Measures Cardiovascular Endurance.
Equipment: Step or platform 20 inches (50.8 cm) high for men, 40 cm (16 inches) for women,
stopwatch, metronome or cadence tape.
Procedure: The athlete warms up for 10 minutes
The assistant gives the command "GO" and starts the stopwatch.The athlete steps up andAthlete
steps up onto,and back down from the step at a rate of 30 completed steps per minute(one second
up,one second down) for 5 minutes.The athlete immediately sits down on completion of the test,
and the total number of heart beats are counted from 1 to 1½ minutes after finishing and from 2
to 2½ minutes after finishing and finally from 3 to 3½ minutes after finishing.
Fitness index (longform) = Duration of Exercise In Seconds X 100/2 × Sum of pulse counts.
Fitness index (shortform) = Duration of exercise X 100/5.5 X pulse count between 1 & 1.5

Johnson Metheny test

Johnson- Metheny Test battery is revised version of Johnson Educability Test which was
designed in 1932. The purpose of the Johnson battery was to measure neuromuscular skill
capacity which have ten items. In 1938 Methney studied the test and eliminated six items.The
test battery consist of four motor stunts are given below:
I. Front Roll
II. Back Roll
III. Jumping Half-Turns
IV. Jumping Full- Turns
Four stunts are to be performed by the boys and three stunts for girls.
Test Area: Mat area length is 15 feet and it is 2 feet wide. The 15 feet length is divided into ten
sections for 18” each. The width of the transverse line is ¾” and 3” alternatively. Centre of lines
remains 18” apart. Another ¾” wide line is marked lengthwise in the middle of the mat area.
1. Front Roll: Ignoring the long middle dividing line, the subject is asked to start outside the
marked area and perform two front rolls, one up to 7.5’ i.e. 3” wide centre line and the second in
the other half of 7.5’. The subject is to perform the rolls without touching the limits or over
reaching the zones mentioned above.
Scoring: Each correct roll gets 5 points, hence a maximum of 10 points. Two points are deducted
for over-reaching side line, right or left for each roll; one point is deducted for over reaching the
end limit on each roll and full five points are deducted when
the subject fails to perform a true front roll.
2. Back Roll: The test is similar to front roll both in performing and scoring. The subject is to
start outside the marked chart area and is to ‘perform two back rolls in the 2 feet lane area, one
up to first half and the second back roll in the second half.
3. Jumping Half Turns: The subject is asked to start with feet on first 3” line, jump with both feet
to second 3” wide line, executing a half turn either right
or left; jump to third 3” line executing half turn in opposite direction to first half-turn and then to
4th and 5th 3” wide lines executing half turns, right or
left alternatively.
Scoring: Perfect execution of four jumps is worth ten points. Only 2 points are deducted for each
wrong jump when the subject either does not land with both feet on the 3” line or turns the
wrong way or both.
4. Jumping Full Turns: The subject is asked to start with the feet outside the marked area at about
the centre of the lane. He/She is required to jump with
feet together to the second rectangular space, executing a full turn with the body either right or
left; continue jumping to alternate rectangular spaces across the marked mat executing full turns,
rotating body in the same direction, landing on both feet every time.
Scoring: Perfect execution of five jumps is worth ten points. Two points are deducted, if the
subject fails to keep balance on landing on both feet; turns too far
or oversteps the squares.