WJEC/Eduqas GCSE PE Personal Fitness Programme: Student Companion

Self-analysis 3 Comparing test results to normative data Many tness tests have associated data (normative data or national norms ). These norms are very useful for you to use to interpret the test results, but you need to understand what they are and the possible limitations of using them. Table 3.3 gives an example of the national norms for 16-year-old males and females for the multi-stage tness test. Table 3.3 Norms for the multi-stage tness test (cardiovascular endurance) Gender Excellent Above average Average Below average Poor Boys L12 / S7 L11 / S2 L8 / S9 L7 / S1 L6 / S6 Girls L10 / S9 L9 / S1 L6 / S7 L5 / S1 L4 / S7 When using norms to compare and interpret your test results, you must consider if the data is derived from a test using the same protocol . It is not always clear what the test procedure is by the name of the test, for example the ‘Multi-stage tness test’ can be performed in numerous ways, such as a 15 metre test and a 20 metre test. So norms using one procedure may not be relevant for another. It is also important to consider if the norms were derived from a subject population and age group that is similar to your test group. Many tests were developed in a university setting, so university students make up the population group for many test norms. This group may not always re ect the general population (or your group of teenagers or athletes for example). Look for norms: • based on a similar age group • that are up to date • of local origin if possible (e.g. from the UK). Other useful tests There are other methods of testing including laboratory tests , which are costly and may not be as available as field tests . Other methods of measuring health and tness are: • sport speci c tests • Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaires (PAR-Q) • screening methods such as monitoring blood pressure (BP) , heart rate (HR) and calorie intake. Phys ical Act i v i ty Readiness Quest ionnai re (PAR-Q) A Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, or PAR-Q, is a method of uncovering health and lifestyle issues prior to taking part in an exercise programme. Coaches use PAR-Q questionnaires to determine the risks that exercising poses for an individual based on their health history, any symptoms they are displaying, and other risk factors that affect them. The results can also help the coach design a more effective exercise programme for that individual. The questionnaire is short and easy to administer and reveals any family history of illness. You can nd many examples of a PAR-Q form, see Figure 3.1, or you could devise your own as a class so that it is common to all students within the class or 25