Don't get me wrong, I am all for establishing a standard set of physical testing norms for a team during preseason, but it is important to be aware of what message you are sending to your players when doing so.
By all means set the bar high and let your players know your level of expectation regarding fitness for example, but make sure the parameters are realistic for the players and not totally out of their control. Here are two examples that prove my point:
- A Div. 1 football program's summer conditioning test is 28 x 110's, last year they ran 31 x 110's. Now the traditional test used by many programs is 16 x 110's. However, this particular program runs a second set after a few minutes rest. While this may help to show mental toughness and gut wrenching fitness, it also sends out a different message that has little to do with football specific fitness. By the way, guess how many players actually made all of their times? No more than three I was told.
Note: I want to be clear and let you know that this test did not come from the school's strength and conditioning coach but from the head coaching staff.
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Checkout the following chart for preseason testing by a top 20 soccer program. This is given to incoming freshmen before they report. What's wrong with this? Overall nothing, except for the very first item which is what the player cannot control. I know of plenty of world class soccer players who are under 6'0" tall.
As a strength and conditioning coach, we have the power to design environments for our players that are mentally engaging, physicall challenging, and emotionally involved. the key word being 'design'.
What are some of the things that you have found successul with your player's coming into preseason?