National 5 Physical Education

Recognised Fitness Tests Agility: Illinois Agility Test Cardio Respiratory Endurance: Bleep Test

Bleep Test (Multi-Stage Fitness Test) I measured out a 20-metre section and marked each end with marker cones I warmed up for 10 minutes My teacher started the sound from the speaker and I started the test I had to run 20m in time with the beep from the recording. I had to place my foot on or beyond the 20m line each time I ran. If I arrived at the end of a shuttle before the beep, I had to wait for the beep and then resume running. If I failed to reach the end of the shuttle before the beep, I was allowed 2 further attempts before I had to withdraw. My partner recorded the level and number of shuttles completed when I withdrew.

Why use a bleep test??? This is a standardised fitness test, which means the test conditions are standardised and more reliable and you can compare your score against national norms to see which category you fit into. A bleep test can act as a fitness indicator, meaning you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and ensure that you plan your training programme around your weaknesses. The score at the end of the test is written down, which means you can test again at a later date and compare to see if you have improved. The score is calculated by an observer, this makes it more reliable and removes any chance of bias.

What challenges may you face when trying to collect reliable data on physical factors? The main problem with any fitness test is that it is a tough test and unfortunately players might not have the personality and mental toughness and motivation to complete the test which does not then highlight a true fitness assessment. An observer could lose focus during the test and miss the correct stage which the performer finished at, making the data unreliable. With any fitness test, the time of day and how the performer is feeling can impact their score. If they are not feeling 100%, the test may not be a true reflection of their level of fitness at that time. In the Illinois Agility test, a performer can sometimes make mistakes on the course and this can impact their time, meaning it would not be a true reflection of their actual score.

Mental Toughness Questionnaire

Why use a Mental Toughness Questionnaire? It is written down, which means that it is a permanent record and can be compared at a later date. No equipment is required, so it is very simple to set up and conduct and can be done almost anywhere. It generates a result which can indicate a performer’s level of anxiety / decision making / arousal etc. which can be used to plan a personal development plan.

What challenges may you face when trying to collect reliable data on mental factors? With the MTQ, it is a subjective test, meaning it relies on the performer being completely honest with themselves. This may not be the case and the performer could lie on their test sheet, making the results meaningless. The MTQ test requires a performer to have experienced competitive sports, if a performer has not, they may not fully understand what the questions are asking them, this would make the results pointless. Often in a match, the pressure can make things fuzzy and unclear. With the MTQ, thoughts are not being written down till the very end of the match where your emotions and opinions may have changed by this time, this means the score may not be a true reflection.

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