Trainer Tips: FG Tips and Tricks from the Trainers

While vitally important fitness testing can also be time consuming. Here are some tips and tricks from NCAAHPERD’s SPARK trainers on how they complete their own fitness testing quickly and efficiently.

• I start with the pacer test, curl ups, push ups, height/weight, trunk lift and finish with truck lift. I have been able to get it all [completed] in 45 minutes. This year , I am doing the sit and reach and in the past, I did shoulder flexibility…so it may take a little longer then one class period.
Chris Walker

• I have the students line up in alphabetical order so I don’t have to search for their name on my roster. I do height and weigh at the same time. I have them play Grab the Apple while waiting. I can usually do sit and reach, trunk lift, height and weight in the same day.
I do make ups early between the busses arrival and the tardy bell.
Leslie Carmichael

• I know [a teacher who] painted a line around the base of her gym that is 12″ high…so she could see who could do trunk lift quickly. When doing sit-ups, [I] cut a bunch of old laminated poster board and tape it all together. [It] rolls out to be over 30 feet. I tape it down on the mats when testing.
Megan Brown

• [T]he best tip I have is with all of our kids we set up stations with the shoulder stretch, push -ups, sit ups, modified pull-ups, flex arm hang- regular pull-ups, and sit and reach and ask parent volunteers to help us record and have the kids rotate around to the stations to get them all done quicker. The more man power you can recruit the quicker you can get it done and the more organized you can be – there is four of us and we usually have a student teacher so we can each be at a station and that helps it run pretty smooth and easy too!
Melanie Champion

• PACER- Use it as a[n] ASAP in the first couple of weeks prior to testing.
Use the F[G] DVD to show at least curl and push up tests!! [T]he visual is key!! Follow this with a FG Workout Buddies [SPARK lesson]- curl-up, push-up, sit and reach, trunk lift partners one student is testing other is “coaching.” The coach can say up/down and give warnings (use this time to review proper form, give number to complete/practice and have them switch jobs prior to moving on.

No technology no problem! Kids love to take pictures!! Make posters with students performing the test correctly and incorrectly to demonstrate proper form! Post these while teaching and administering the test.

Group tests to help administer more effectively. [For] example:

-Trunk lift (use a sticker or “x” so student can place chin) and Curl up -table the strip on floor/mat. ([You will] need [a] mat for both) Lesson idea: [Use a] PACE activity [SPARK lesson] [because] the curl ups can take awhile. Other ideas [include] speed stacking, bingo, or Grab Bag [SPARK lesson].

-Ht/Wt and Sit and Reach (no shoes) Lesson idea: Jump Rope stations/challenges as the tests are less “stressful” tests, station prior to testing can focus on flexibility.

-PACER test (extra time after finish Ht/Wt or sit and reach) U[se] partners and the bubble sheet!! Keep fitness folders and pre-group runners into two groups- Low/High HFZ

-Push up test-use tape on the floor for hand placement, ball or other object to remind student to of the 90 degree elbow bend. Test doesn’t take long the Lesson idea can be more flexible: anything from a PACE activity [SPARK lesson], speed stacking stations, to a skill concept review such as throwing and catching, to bowling stations including-cardio bowling.
Allow a day for make up testing so you don’t have to later [chase] down students!!

Make up PACER tests during a lunch/planning or during a students recess time.
Vicky Schrock

- Most of the time, I can get two test done during a 45 minute class. Unfortunately, most kids do not do a lot of push ups. So, I usually start with push ups and move right into curl ups. We’ve also done rotation of activities during testing. The rotation…keep[s] the kids busy and decrease[s] unpleasant behaviors.
Tanya Freeman