30m Sprint Fatigue Power Maintenance Test

Testing and measurement are the means of collecting information upon which subsequent performance evaluations and decisions are made. In the analysis, we need to consider the factors influencing the results.

Objective

This test aims to monitor the athlete's power maintenance - sprint fatigue.

Required Resources

To conduct this test, you will require:

400m track
12 Cones
Stopwatch
Assistant

How to conduct the test

This test requires the athlete to complete 10 x 30m sprints.

The athlete warms up for 10 minutes
The assistant sets up the course as per the diagram opposite using the cones
The assistant gives the command "GO" and starts the stopwatch
The athlete sprints from A to B between the cones deviating 5m sideways in the middle of the sprint
The assistant stops the stopwatch when the athlete's torso crosses the finish line at B and records the time
The athlete jogs slowly back to point A (taking no longer than 30 seconds to do so), following the route on the diagram
The athlete is to complete a total of 10 sprints from A to B, and the assistant is to record the times

Assessment

I have been unable to locate any normative data for this test. An assessment of power maintenance is:

Rating	Good	Above Average	Average	Below Average
Power Score	>= 0.9	0.85 to 0.899	0.80 to 0.849	<0.799

Power Maintenance

Determine the average speed of the first three trials and divide it by the last three's average speed. So if your times were

7.1 seconds, 6.9 seconds, 6.9 seconds
7.0 seconds, 7.2 seconds, 7.1 seconds, 7.3 seconds
7.3 seconds, 7.4 seconds, 7.5 seconds

The average of the first three times (7.1, 6.9, and 6.9) is 6.97 seconds, and the average of the last three times (7.3, 7.4, and 7.5) is 7.40 seconds.

Power Maintenance = 6.97 ÷ 7.40 = 0.94 (Excellent)

Sprint Fatigue

Using the ten recorded sprint times, subtract your fastest time from your slowest time. For example, if your slowest sprint was 7.8 seconds and your fastest sprint was 6.9 seconds, your sprint fatigue is 0.9 (7.8 - 6.9).

Enter the athlete's times for the ten sprints and then select the 'Calculate' button.

1^st Sprint	seconds	2^nd Sprint	seconds
3^rd Sprint	seconds	4^th Sprint	seconds
5^th Sprint	seconds	6^th Sprint	seconds
7^th Sprint	seconds	8^th Sprint	seconds
9^th Sprint	seconds	10^th Sprint	seconds

Sprint Fatigue		Power Maintenance
	Assessment

Analysis

The test result is analysed by comparing it with the athlete's previous results for this test. It is expected that the analysis would indicate an improvement in the athlete's power maintenance (sprint fatigue) with appropriate training between each test.

Target Group

This test is suitable for active athletes but not for individuals where the test would be contraindicated.

Reliability

Test reliability refers to how a test is consistent and stable in measuring its intended measure.Reliability will depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual's level of motivation to perform the test. The following link provides various factors influencing the results and test reliability.

Validity

Test validity refers to the degree to which the test measures what it claims to measure and the extent to which inferences, conclusions, and decisions based on test scores are appropriate and meaningful. This test provides a means to monitor training on the athlete's physical development.

Advantages

Minimal equipment required
Simple to set up and conduct

Disadvantages

Specific facilities required - 400m track
Assistant required to administer the test

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

MACKENZIE, B. (2007) 30m Sprint Fatigue Power Maintenance Test [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/fatigue.htm [Accessed