Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning

It is an essential skill for any strength and conditioning coach to be able to reliably assess the physical performance of their athletes and communicate the results and their implications to performers and coaches, alike. Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning is the first textbook to clearly and coherently suggest the most appropriate and reliable methods for assessing and monitoring athletes’ performance, as well as including detailed sections on testing considerations and the interpretation and application of results. The book explores the full range of considerations required to reliably assess performance, including questions of ethics and safety, reliability and validity, and standardised testing, before going on to recommend (through a comparison of field- and laboratory-based techniques) the optimal methods for testing all aspects of physical performance, including: injury risk jump performance sprint performance change of direction and agility strength power aerobic performance body composition Closing with a section on interpreting, presenting and applying results to practice, and illustrated with real-life case study data throughout, Performance Assessment in Strength and Conditioning offers the most useful guide to monitoring athlete performance available. It is an essential text for upper-level strength and conditioning students and practitioners alike.

Introduction: The Role of Assessing and Monitoring Performance Mike McGuigan Part 1: Testing Considerations 1. Ethical and Health and Safety Issues Steve Atkins 2. Psychological Issues during Assessment of Performance Jon Radcliffe 3. Reliability, Validity and Measurement Error Peter Mundy and Neil Clarke 4. Standardisation of Testing John J. McMahon, Paul A. Jones, and Paul Comfort 5. Structured Testing vs. Continual Monitoring Paul Comfort, Paul A. Jones, and Guy W. Hornsby Part 2: Assessment Methods 6. Assessment of Factors Associated with Injury Risk Lee C. Herrington, Allan G. Munro, and Paul A. Jones 7. Vertical Jump Testing John J. McMahon, Jason P. Lake, and Tim J. Suchomel 8. Sprint Testing Robert Lockie 9. Change of Direction and Agility Paul A. Jones and Sophia Nimphius 10. Strength – Isometric and Dynamic Testing G. Greg Haff 11. Assessment of Power Jason Lake and Peter Mundy 12. Aerobic Performance Assessment Fred J. DiMenna and Andrew M. Jones 13. Body Composition Assessment Carl Langan-Evans, James P. Morton and Graeme L. Close 14. Combined Assessment Methods Tim J. Suchomel, John J. McMahon, and Jason P. Lake Part 3: Interpretation and Application 15. Interpretation of Results Jeremy A. Gentles, Guy W. Hornsby, and Michael H. Stone 16. Presentation and Communication of Results John McMahon and Peter Mundy 17. Application to Training Guy W. Hornsby, Jeremy A. Gentles, and Michael h. Stone

Paul Comfort, PhD, CSCS*D, ASCC, is a Reader in Strength and Conditioning and Programme Leader for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford, UK. Paul A. Jones, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), CSCS*D, BASES Accred. CSci.,is a Lecturer in Sports Biomechanicsand Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford, UK. John J. McMahon, PhD, CSCS, ASCC, is a Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics and Strength and Conditioning (S&C)at the University of Salford, UK.