The Beep Test

[The Hulkster]

Picked up this info from the Addy this morning. As per usual Linga won, and had to be stopped mind you.

But what i found surprising was that Nathan Ablett and Scarlo were amongst the first out. Now fair enough Scarlo he is more of an explosive type player.

But as for Nathan i think it shows maybe they see him as an explosive player asso and he would be used inside 50. If he was going to be used more up the ground you would think his fitness would be higher.

I just found it interesting.

Does anyone know anymore results from the fitness tests.



But if Thompson was worried, he didn't look it yesterday, as he watched over his players' fitness testing on the second day of their community camp in Warrnambool.

Having spent all day touring schools, the Cats sweated the afternoon out with Cameron Ling topping the beep test at level 15 when he was told to stop.

Corey Enright and Shannon Byrnes were close behind in equal second, while Kane Tenace recorded a personal best 14.7.

Matthew Scarlett and Nathan Ablett were among the first out in the test, although many players were told to stop in preparation for a massive training session in Warrnambool this morning.

Among those who sat the test out include captain Steven King, Brad Ottens, Tom Harley, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson, Henry Playfair and Joel Corey, all recovering from injuries.

Thompson said he hoped all of them would be fit in time for round one, including Ottens, who Thompson believes is set for a big year after struggling with injuries in his first season at the club.

``He's going well. I think he'll have a much better year. You can see he's more comfortable, more relaxed around the place,'' he said.

 

[Strong hands Magee]

Can someone please tell me exactly how a beep test is performed and calculated?

 

[The Hulkster]

Having done the beep test a number of times (PB of 14.3) i can tell you it is a killer.

Basically you run 20 metres up and back. Each 20 metres is 0.1. I think it goes to about 20 before it goes up a level. So ie: 1.20 then 2.0...2.1....2.2 and so on.

As you go the time to get between the 20 metres gets quicker. If you dont make the beep you have to stop. You run till you drop.

I think that is right, but please correct me if i am wrong.

 

[iameviljez]

Having done the beep test a number of times (PB of 14.3) i can tell you it is a killer.

Basically you run 20 metres up and back. Each 20 metres is 0.1. I think it goes to about 20 before it goes up a level. So ie: 1.20 then 2.0...2.1....2.2 and so on.

As you go the time to get between the 20 metres gets quicker. If you dont make the beep you have to stop. You run till you drop.

I think that is right, but please correct me if i am wrong.

I think it goes to about .8 on the earlier levels and up to about .15 on the later ones. Each time you go up a level you get faster, not with each beep.
In short, though, you're right. It's vomitatious.

 

[catempire]

Never done one myself, but here’s what Wikipedia has to say about them:

The multi-stage fitness test, also known as the bleep test, beep test, or shuttle run test, is used by sports coaches and trainers to estimate an athlete's VO2 Max (maximum oxygen uptake). The test is especially useful for players of sports like football, hockey, or rugby.

The test involves running continuously between two points that are 20 m apart. These runs are synchronised with a pre-recorded audio tape or CD, which plays beeps at set intervals. As the test proceeds, the interval between each successive beep reduces, forcing the athlete to increase velocity over the course of the test, until it is impossible to keep in sync with the recording.

The recording is typically structured into 23 'levels', each of which lasts 60 seconds. Usually, the interval of beeps is calculated require a speed at the start of 8.5 km/h, which increases by 0.5 km/h with each level. The progression from one level to the next is signalled by 3 rapid beeps. The highest level attained before failing to keep up is recorded as the score for that test.

The procedure is designed to measure the maximum endurance of an individual. Therefore, it should not be used for those of low fitness levels.

 

[thehoff]

Having done the beep test a number of times (PB of 14.3) i can tell you it is a killer.

Basically you run 20 metres up and back. Each 20 metres is 0.1. I think it goes to about 20 before it goes up a level. So ie: 1.20 then 2.0...2.1....2.2 and so on.

As you go the time to get between the 20 metres gets quicker. If you dont make the beep you have to stop. You run till you drop.

I think that is right, but please correct me if i am wrong.

100% correct. I have also done the test of number of time and hated it. Hulkster you've beat my personal best of 14.1!

I would be very interested to see what Nathan and Scarlo's results were... Anything under 13 for a AFL footballer is pretty average.

I was told when playing TAC by a recruiter at Hawthorn their club would not even consider drafting you if you could not atleast complete a 13.7 on the beep test.

Interesting to see the full results.

 

[Turbocat]

100% correct. I have also done the test of number of time and hated it. Hulkster you've beat my personal best of 14.1!

I would be very interested to see what Nathan and Scarlo's results were... Anything under 13 for a AFL footballer is pretty average.
I was told when playing TAC by a recruiter at Hawthorn their club would not even consider drafting you if you could not atleast complete a 13.7 on the beep test.

Interesting to see the full results.

Your probably right but its a very over rated tool me thinks. Spriggs used to kill yet it helped not his football talent.Now with super rotations it mean even less.
Nathan is probably like his old man, not built for endurance but built short rapid movement with high power. How do you really think Gary Senior or Greg Williams or so many other champs would have gone? When the beep test helps you take a mark and kick straight I'll give it more credence

 

[catempire]

Your probably right but its a very over rated tool me thinks. Spriggs used to kill yet it helped not his football talent.Now with super rotations it mean even less.
Nathan is probably like his old man, not built for endurance but built short rapid movement with high power. How do you really think Gary Senior or Greg Williams or so many other champs would have gone? When the beep test helps you take a mark and kick straight I'll give it more credence

As usual Turbocat, your post is without falsehood. However…

Nobody was suggesting that beep tests were the be-all and end-all of a good footballer. Putting yourself in the best shape possible to tackle the long and physically demanding season, is critical. Having our players as fit as possible at this stage of the year gives us the best chance that they won’t succumb to injury or burn out at some stage of the season. Beep tests are an indicator of how well they are travelling. I think it’s a good sign that guys like Tenace are in top shape, but as you point out, I don’t care so much that guys like Scarlett and Ablett perhaps struggled.

 

[thehoff]

As usual Turbocat, your post is without falsehood. However…

Nobody was suggesting that beep tests were the be-all and end-all of a good footballer. Putting yourself in the best shape possible to tackle the long and physically demanding season, is critical. Having our players as fit as possible at this stage of the year gives us the best chance that they won’t succumb to injury or burn out at some stage of the season. Beep tests are an indicator of how well they are travelling. I think it’s a good sign that guys like Tenace are in top shape, but as you point out, I don’t care so much that guys like Scarlett and Ablett perhaps struggled.

Correct... I never suggested once that it was a good indicator of talents. I just forwarded what i was advised by the Hawthron Football Club.

It is a fantastic monitor for how a player is maintaining his fitness over the pre-season and his current shape as to those of previous years.

 

[Turbocat]

As usual Turbocat, your post is without falsehood. However…

Nobody was suggesting that beep tests were the be-all and end-all of a good footballer. Putting yourself in the best shape possible to tackle the long and physically demanding season, is critical. Having our players as fit as possible at this stage of the year gives us the best chance that they won’t succumb to injury or burn out at some stage of the season. Beep tests are an indicator of how well they are travelling. I think it’s a good sign that guys like Tenace are in top shape, but as you point out, I don’t care so much that guys like Scarlett and Ablett perhaps struggled.

Good point. I suppose its also true that if you cant get to the ball then it dont matter what you can do with it.

 

[Rosso]

If you asked me before hand who would struggle with a beep test it would be Nathan, and please don't get me wrong coz I'm not bagging him.

Just the way he plods around the ground until he's required to take off shows that he's footballer first, not athlete.

Midfielders are required to have a big tank so to hear that blokes like Tenace have claimed a PB and is in the top 2 or 3 is great. That's what he needed to do, find a balance between speed and stamina or at least inprove his engine. But as for KPP, as long as they're fast enough to get to the contest, that's all I expect.

 

[iameviljez]

Your probably right but its a very over rated tool me thinks. Spriggs used to kill yet it helped not his football talent.Now with super rotations it mean even less.
Nathan is probably like his old man, not built for endurance but built short rapid movement with high power. How do you really think Gary Senior or Greg Williams or so many other champs would have gone? When the beep test helps you take a mark and kick straight I'll give it more credence

Whilst there will certainly be some who will naturally be better at beep tests than others, I give it plenty of credence on a number of fronts. Firstly, to play anywhere between the fifties you need to be fit. Very fit. However, the second, and almost more important, consideration, is that a high score in the beep test represents a high work ethic on behalf of the player and a desire to be commited and in shape. There's only one way you can do well in a beep test; hard yards, and if you're not doing them then you shouldn't be an AFL footballer.

 

[Jack-Packenham]

I was told when playing TAC by a recruiter at Hawthorn their club would not even consider drafting you if you could not atleast complete a 13.7 on the beep test.

Might be the reason that they only had 1 or 2 ruckman on there list until this years draft.

 

[ezbian]

For Tenace to step up to the plate is fantastic. With his speed, and now it seems a big tank to match, it is a lethal combination.

 

[catempire]

For Tenace to step up to the plate is fantastic. With his speed, and now it seems a big tank to match, it is a lethal combination.

Yep. Reinforces him as my tip for most improved this year.

 

[Turbocat]

Whilst there will certainly be some who will naturally be better at beep tests than others, I give it plenty of credence on a number of fronts. Firstly, to play anywhere between the fifties you need to be fit. Very fit. However, the second, and almost more important, consideration, is that a high score in the beep test represents a high work ethic on behalf of the player and a desire to be commited and in shape. There's only one way you can do well in a beep test; hard yards, and if you're not doing them then you shouldn't be an AFL footballer.

I take on board what your saying. The ability to push ones self etc.
However this is just facet to a lot of characteristic that make up a player. Do we get them to do the lethal weapon thing , hold their hand over an open flame just to see their resilence to pain? Do we test their IQ because we want smart players?
Id rather see how many pushups can he do or how many 100/100's but at least its a repeatable test thats comparable from year to year. Its a gauge that one can compare player to player. Its usefull but nothing more

 

[DBAH0]

For Tenace to step up to the plate is fantastic. With his speed, and now it seems a big tank to match, it is a lethal combination.

Just needs to improve his disposal now.

 

[scottydeewah]

It may actually help improve his disposal later in games or on the run. If you are fit you dont get tired and you dont get a lazy disposal style.

 

[Rosso]

It may actually help improve his disposal later in games or on the run. If you are fit you dont get tired and you dont get a lazy disposal style.

Oh so true. Last year against the Bombers at TD he bolted down the wing dodging and weaving before laying off a perfect pass. But that was it. He was spent and didn't get near the pill for the next 10 minutes. He also sat out a fair bit of the last quarter against Sydney after playing a pretty good game and that would be for just not having enough in the tank.

I read an article in the WAG magazine that said one of their main focus' was to improve endurance of the quicker blokes whilst maintaining their speed and vice versa with the endurance based players.

 

[jkelly9]

I think it goes to about .8 on the earlier levels and up to about .15 on the later ones. Each time you go up a level you get faster, not with each beep.
In short, though, you're right. It's vomitatious.

It starts at 6 or 7 beeps on level 1, then each level has one more beep than the previous. So level 1 has 6 beeps, level 2 has 7, etc etc.

I did it on Tuesday. HATE IT!

 

[Turbocat]

If we are talking Tenace , his foot skills havent been outstanding even when he has been in the first quarter. I do agree fitness will assist in maintaining peformance but a beep test shows if he is capable of running a long time at what 70%, when at the end of his sprints say 80 metres he has been closer to 100% pace.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

It's a killer, the beep test!

 

[Kegs44]

Def a killer, my highest is 14.8, but each level goes for approx 1 minute, maybe two, and its just how many beeps its fits into that minute or so, gradually getting faster, therefore more beeps

 

[Partridge]

Whilst there will certainly be some who will naturally be better at beep tests than others, I give it plenty of credence on a number of fronts. Firstly, to play anywhere between the fifties you need to be fit. Very fit. However, the second, and almost more important, consideration, is that a high score in the beep test represents a high work ethic on behalf of the player and a desire to be commited and in shape. There's only one way you can do well in a beep test; hard yards, and if you're not doing them then you shouldn't be an AFL footballer.

Well said. I don't think it's everything - the image of David Spriggs comes to mind to illustrate the perfect footballer v athlete argument. I do however totally agree that it does help indicate how keen a player is to improve himself. As far as I'm concerned any footballer, especially a midfielder, has no excuse if he doesn't try his best to have the endurance of a marathon runner. After all, these guys don't do anything else. I recently read Kurt Angle's book and the detail of his Olympic training had my jaw hanging open. But now these guys are fully professional, it's what you rightly expect.