73909 - Evaluation in Sport

Learning outcomes

A complete understanding of motor evaluation and testing methods is necessary to plan individual training, assess the efficacy of training programs, and for talent identification. Furthermore, motor assessments and tests are important methodological tools in applied research, both in the field and laboratory protocols. This course aims to provide the students a complete knowledge of motor tests, regarding their theoretical foundations, influencing factors, and source of measurements errors

Course contents

Introduction and general principles of sports testing

• Definition of evaluation
  
• Aims of evaluation in sports
• Evaluation tools in sports
• The evaluation process
• Characteristics of an evaluation tool
• Data analysis and interpretation

Principles of statistics applied to sports testing

• Frequency distributions
• Gaussian distribution
• Central tendency indices
• Dispersion indices
• Measures of correlation and regression

Endurance testing

• Review of metabolic mechanisms underlying endurance
• Classification of endurance tests
• All-out tests
• Graded tests
• Sub-maximal tests

Strength testing

• Review of physiological and biomechanical mechanisms underlying strength
• Maximal strength tests
• Explosive strength and power tests

Speed testing

• Sprint tests
• Reaction tests
• Cyclic and acyclic speed tests

Flexibility testing

• Analysis of biomechanical factors limiting the movements in the most important flexibility tests
• Static and dynamic flexibility tests
• Linear and angular tests for the main joints

Coordination capacities testing

• Dexterity circuits
• Kinesthetic differentiation tests
• Time-space orientation tests
• Motor combination and coupling tests
• Balance tests
• Rhythm tests
• Capacity of transformation tests

Technique testing

• Technical tests for the evaluation of sport gestures
• Qualitative evaluation, observation grids and questionnaires
• Quantitative evaluation of biomechanical descriptors of technical gestures

Tactics testing

• Questionnaires and tactical problems to solve
• Manual and electronic scores

Readings/Bibliography

Scientific papers and book chapters that will be indicated for each specific topic. References will be provided during the lessons and uploaded online together with the educational material.

Follow-up books

- Weineck J.. L'allenamento ottimale. Calzetti Mariucci. Perugia 2009

Teaching methods

Fronctal lectures, practical lessons on testing and data analysis

Assessment methods

Written examination, consisting of 16 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-answer questions

Teaching tools

1. Field and laboratory endurance tests

2. Direct and indirect strength tests

3. Power and explosive strength tests

4. Cyclic and acyclic rapidity tests, and reaction time tests

5. Coordinative capacities tests

6. Qualitative evaluation methods for sports techniques in the field

7. Quantitative methods for the evaluation of sports technique

8. Analysis of testing and training data using a spreadsheet

Office hours

See the website of Rocco Di Michele

See the website of Franco Merni