Most often, coaches and trainers do not use assessments at all during any stage of their programs. To be honest with you, I can understand why. It can be very confusing and most people don’t know what they are looking for and if they do they don’t know what to do with the information once gathered. Here are my thoughts…

An assessment, evaluation, or screen is a tool to gather information on individuals, teams, and even programs. Don’t just think of an assessment for individuals. It is for programs as well. Once collected, the information lets you know what direction to head. It does not give you all the answers, but it does head you in a reasonably correct direction. Because you should be constantly assessing, you are able to adjust your program when needed.

Ten years ago I would give two hour assessment. It ended up I had more information than I knew what to do with. The assesment was basically beyond my scope. The information I gathered needed to be dealt with by a physical therapist or other medical professional. Over time, I began to learn more about FMS and other functional assessments. These programs allowed me to develop a good snapshot of what was going on with my athletes and allowed me to use my normal strength and conditional progressions to help improve mobility, stability, and the interaction of mobility and stability. I also learned to use appropriate assessments for each situation. Not all training situations allow me to do full assessments or screens.

The next thing I began to learn is that I can do all the static or controlled assessments I want but until I see my athlete move in a live setting I really don’t know much about them. So, I began to implement simple dynamic athletic speed movements to learn how the athlete’s body works in function. I use lateral shuffles and crossovers to assess hip and core function. I also see how the hips and ankles/feet control the knee during lateral gait. A lateral crossover gives me a chance to assess hip mobility. I then look at linear movements…how well an athlete accelerates off each leg and how well they decelerate on each leg and with both legs at the same time. Next, I implement jumping and landing as well as leaping and hopping. These allow me to observe force absorption mechanics and the interaction of the total body during force absorption.

I realize everyday is a new assessment. I have to be aware of any changes in how the athletes are moving from day to day. Today an athlete is moving really well laterally, but tomorrow he is off balance and slower during their lateral change of direction. This tells me I need to ask questions.

The greatest assessments are the ones that allow you to find functional feedback from a visual and verbal standpoint. My toughest assessments are with shy athlete who don’t give me tell any feedback. The athletes who talk and let me know what they are feeling are much easier for me to address.

My advice to those who don’t assess or don’t know how to assess is to understand you can reach results quicker by knowing what direction to go at the start of a program and from the start of each day. My program might completely change today if an athlete shows me something different in their normal movement. Don’t try to use complicated assessments. Leave this to the therapists. As coaches and trainers our job is to gather information that allows us to help athletes move better, run faster, and use their bodies more effectively from a strength and conditioning standpoint.

In my opinion there is no perfect assessment program. By using information from all the various types of assessment (athletic assessments, flexibility assessments, strength assessments, and postural assessments to name a few) you will gain valuable information to allow you to do your job better and get safer results.

Again, my final piece of advice is to let other professionals perform the assessment if you are not capable or comfortable doing so yourself.

P.S. – Because I use many functional athletic assessments I have been able to uncover movement dysfunction in many athletes that was missed my medical professionals. This tells me that we cannot just assess using non-functional static tests. These tests have their place but they don’t give us enough information about real live movement and how the body truly is meant to function.

P.S.S – Do you need simple yet simple ideas on how you build your strength training program using movement patterns and not focusing on body parts….then go to www.SportsSpeedEtc.com and check out my DVD Strength through Movement Patterns.