Football has evolved over the years into a game defined by explosive power and speed. SPARQ wants to reveal
and test your athleticism in the most accurate, relevant way possible, so you can know what you need to do to
change and elevate your game. The Bench Press tested strength and endurance. The old Vertical Jump measured
inches. Neither of those tests reveals the volcano-like power at the core of a football athlete. SPARQ has
evolved the Football Protocol to more authentically measure that kind of Power.
The Power that changes athletes. The Power that changes games.
The following are the updated 2008 SPARQ Football Testing Protocols. To download the 2008 Football Protocol Sheet (PDF) click here. If you have any questions about the changes, download the Frequently Asked Questions sheet or post your question on the message boards.
The Power that changes athletes. The Power that changes games.
The following are the updated 2008 SPARQ Football Testing Protocols. To download the 2008 Football Protocol Sheet (PDF) click here. If you have any questions about the changes, download the Frequently Asked Questions sheet or post your question on the message boards.
KNEELING POWERBALL TOSS:
In football, if you're on your back the play is over. Lying on your back pushing large amounts of weight off your chest doesn't indicate very much about your athleticism. Sure, it shows a certain amount of strength and endurance, but what about a test to measure the explosive power that applies directly to what you do on the field? The Kneeling Power Ball Toss is a test indicates how likely it is that you will stay on your feet and own the line of scrimmage.Rather than a simple measure of strength, the Kneeling Power Ball Toss is an exhibition of explosive power. And that explosive power is key in every position, in every play and in every game.
5-10-5 AGILITY SHUTTLE:
The Agility Shuttle reveals how well you control your body at top speeds with quick changes of direction. Being able to stay on your feet and maintain your center of gravity while making quick cuts is a game-elevating skill.Think of it like the antelope you see on the Discovery Channel, being pursued by a hungry cheetah, and the antelope tries to outmaneuver the cheetah by zigzagging left and right without losing speed. Basically, this is football. And the question is this: Are you going to go hungry, or are you going to eat well?
40-YARD DASH:
Elemental acceleration and speed. Run forward, run fast - point A to point B, and all that. In the 40, run like you're on fire. But make it a controlled burn – the tighter your form, the faster your time.The 40 Yard Dash measures how fast you are off the mark, and how quickly you can accelerate to your top speed. And the results are a good indication of who has break-away speed, who will separate, who will get caught from behind, and who will do the catching.
PEAK-POWER VERTICAL JUMP:
Football isn't a jumping sport; it is a sport that requires explosive power. Recording the Vertical Jump in plain old inches only tells part of the story. By adding your weight into the equation, the Vertical Jump now reveals your Peak Power – a key indicator of off the mark speed and overall explosiveness. How high you are able to propel your total body weight off the ground says more about your athleticism than simple inches ever will.Take the kid who weighs 160 and has a 29" jump, and compare him to the kid who weighs 280 and has a 25" jump. The larger guy is moving a significantly larger object (himself) a comparatively greater distance (25" vs. 29"). He is demonstrating a higher level of Peak Power, which translates into more tackles for loss, more sacks, more blocks, more cuts and more overall but-kicking ability.
