How to complete accurate, reliable and valid testing on a budget

MVP Analytics is suited to those with budget constraints, learn to test on a budget and maintain the accuracy of professional systems.

1. AvSprinting
   1. Timing Gates
   2. Phone App
   3. Stopwatch
2. Agility (Change of Direction)
   1. Illinois
   2. 5-10-5
   3. 5-0-5
   4. Arrowhead
3. Cardiovascular Fitness
   
   1. Bleep
   2. YoYo
   3. Bronco
   4. Harvard Step Test
      
      
4. Vertical Power
   1. Countermovement Jump
   2. Vertical Hop
   3. Drop Jump
5. Broad Jump
6. Maximal Strength

A recap of validity, reliability and accuracy

Reliability: A test that is reliable is one that produces similar results given the same conditions, e.g. if you were to step on the bathroom scales 3 times in a row without changing your clothes, eating, drinking or going to the toilet; the reading on the scales would be the same each time. 

Accuracy: The result given is close to the true value. If we expand on the example above and take someone who weighs 70kg and they step on the scales 3 times in a row and the reading is 50kg each time, we can confirm the reading is reliable as we have seen the same number every time. However, the person is actually 70kg when they step on a different set of scales. Therefore the reading of 50kg is not accurate to the true value.

Validity: The extent to which a test chosen measures what it is supposed to, a test becomes more valid as both accuracy and reliability improve.

Sprinting

Timing gates are the gold standard method of measuring sprint time in the field. Using light beams that start and stop the timer when an athlete passes through the beam removes any human error.

The issue with stopwatch timing is there is error between when the button on the stopwatch is pressed and when the athlete has actually begun moving, then more error at the end when the athlete crosses the line and the coach has to perceive when the athlete crosses and hit stop at exactly the right moment. Therefore we have error at the start and end of the trial, plus when the athlete comes to retest in 3month time we have another two lots of error, we end up with four occasions where the accuracy and reliability of the result is impacted.

Affordable alternative