Fitness test locations - July

haha I’m sure with the right training you’ll be fine!.. I’m convinced that increasing the requirements of the fitness test is The FA’s way of whittling down the numbers. I don’t think there’s much more they can do with the sprints but it wouldn’t surprise me if they changed the times for L4s on the intervals to match the L3s. They may then make the L3 test harder.

I thought it was bad form for The FA to say at the end of January that "There will be no changes to the fitness test requirements for next season", only to then inform us mid-April it was changing from two to four sprints.

I feel like the extra 2 sprints wouldn't change how you prepare for the test though, but please tell me if that's not the case. I think it was a point that the womens pathway made later during the season that made them change it as refs were annoyed at having to do 2 tests just because the L4 lacked a couple sprints

Big Cat said:

Even so, 4x sprints makes a difference compared to the two we've done previously
We might think we do, but we never sprint full pelt in a game. Well, you might, You might sprint the entire 90 mins, but us normal folk really only go to 95% cos that extra 5% is expensive
I've always said the L4 test is too easy, but the extra 2 sprints will make a difference for anyone unfit

Trouble being, I was lazy in June, then got a 2 week injury in July and now it's holiday season. I'm either on the golf course or the beach for the next two weeks and can't get a BP test done so I'll drift into mid-August before dusting off my whistle. Maybe longer as appointments will all be done

Not to worry, August can be quite difficult as I'm not a lover of exercise when the temp gets above about 5 degrees
Give me a rainy, windy day, preferably with a bit of sleet in the air, or some mizzle, haar or hoar to cheer me up

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Must admit, I didn't realise you only did 2 last year, I thought it changed before last years, but now I realise they changed the timing gates element for last year and increased the number of sprints for this year.

I agree full pelt sprinting in a game is rare. I certainly don't sprint for 90 mins although there's not a massive difference between my sprint speed and my fast run speed. I'd say the only times I fully sprint are if a team has a very fast counter attack maybe from a corner or similar and there's a potential KMI

JW17 said:

haha I’m sure with the right training you’ll be fine!.. I’m convinced that increasing the requirements of the fitness test is The FA’s way of whittling down the numbers. I don’t think there’s much more they can do with the sprints but it wouldn’t surprise me if they changed the times for L4s on the intervals to match the L3s. They may then make the L3 test harder.

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Yes, I think they could/should make the L4 Test 15/22 instead of 17/22 but they may be worried about losing 'too many' L4's and being caught short
15/22 is quite a bit harder than 17/22 when I've tried it

I passed the test this morning. Of the 39 or so in attendance, less than half passed
The sprints got rid of a good number and loads more dropped out of the shuttles as I think the extra sprints make a tangible difference
Obvs, a much higher failure rate in Aug than June, but the FA might find themselves a bit short of numbers. Good to weed out the refs with fitness issues however. Not sure how some of them had retained their L4 status TBH

FWIW, I stumbled and failed my first sprint on 6.25
Handled the pressure to do a 5.95 2nd attempt and then I knew I'd be OK, barring further mishaps!! The extra sprint had me depleted for the shuttles. My fitness is cr4p as I've just got back from a boozy golf holiday and a back-to-back week in Barcelona where it was too hot to meaningfully train.
I'll have to crack on and sort myself out over the next three or four weeks because I think L4's should be breezing through that test

The L3's all looked easily capable of passing their test judging by the sprints I watched

@Big Cat Did you all take the full 15 minute minimum break between sprints and shuttles?

bester said:

@Big Cat Did you all take the full 15 minute minimum break between sprints and shuttles?

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I didn't time it, but was between 10 and 15 mins I'd say. I thought the test was well run. The invigilators were strict but fair. They can tell if someone slightly mistimes the shuttles by a yard or so. Honestly though, they were dropping like flies from start to finish. The medical person was busy!
I felt fine after 4 sprints, but the 5th tipped an apple cart and gave me slight hand tremor before even starting the shuttles!
Best to get it done in 4 is the moral of the story

I think for those of us hovering around the 6s mark, it would be worth getting someone in the know to help with technique. I've never had any sprint coaching of any sort. I think I go slower the harder I go for it. 95% effort is probably quicker than 100% for me
Flexed legs (low starting position) is a must at the start, to get a good push off
I was too upright on my first attempt and totally lost my gait over the initial strides. I staggered around like a drunkard. Doubt it's uncommon for anyone to fail the first attempt and live to tell the tail. Caught me by surprise. I thought, 'oh sh1t, that didn't go well'