The Wilf Paish Rugby Football Tests

The objective of this test is to monitor the general fitness of a rugby or soccer player.

Required resources

To undertake this test you will require:

• Rugby pitch
• 400m track
• 30 metre tape measure
• Cones assistant.

How to conduct the test

Test 1 – The Cooper 12 minutes run test or multistage fitness test

Test 2 – 30 metre sprint time, best of three attempts

Test 3 – count the number of squat thrusts that can be completed in 1 minute

Test 4 – count the number of sit-ups that can be completed in 1 minute

Test 5 – count the number of press-ups that can be completed in 1 minute

Test 6 – stamina bound over 22 metres, shuttle system, immediate turnabouts, in the following sequence:

·         Hop right leg;

·         Giant strides;

·         Hop left leg;

·         Giant strides;

·         Double foot bounds;

·         Sprint.

Record the total time taken for the shuttle sequence.

Test 7 – Zig Zag run

Record the time taken to run from A to B, pick up a ball and run to C, zig-zag between cones to D, and then zig-zag back to C. Sprint to E, put the ball down and sprint to F.

Test 8 – Star Run

Balls are placed at A and E. The player starts at A with the ball and runs to E, changes the balls over, sprints around the cone at B and back to E to change the balls over. He then runs round cones C and D in turn, changing the ball over at E each time before returning to A. The distance from A to B is 8 metres and from A to D is 15 metres. Record the total time taken to complete the agility run.

Test 9 – Diagonal pitch run

Record the time taken to sprint from A to B, to C to D, and finish back at A.

Analysis

Analysis of the result is by comparing it with the results of previous tests. It is expected that, with appropriate training between each test, the analysis would indicate an improvement in the athlete’s fitness and strength.

Points are allocated as follows:

• Test 1 = (Distance – 2560) / 14.4
• Test 2 = (6.7 – Time in seconds) / 0.032
• Test 3 = (number of squats – 25) / 0.65
• Test 4 = (number of sit-ups – 15) / 0.5
• Test 5 = (number of press ups – 25) / 0.75
• Test 6 = (78 – total time) / 0.48
• Test 7 = (25.8 – zig zag time) / 0.098
• Test 8 = (16.8 – agility run total time) / 0.068
• Test 9 = (100 – diagonal pitch run time) / 0.4

Add the points for each test to give a total score.

Analysis of the total points as follows:

• Total points > 800                Excellent
• Total points 700 – 800         Very Good
• Total points 600 – 699         Good
• Total points 500 – 599         Average
• Total points < 500                Poor

Target group

This test is suitable for players of team sports(soccer, rugby, football) but not for individual’s where the test could be contraindicated.

Reliability

Reliability would depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual’s level of motivation to perform the test.

Validity

There are published tables to relate results to potential level of fitness and the correlation is high.