Screening,Evaluation,Monitoring and Reporting

Evaluation, Monitoring and Screening

Functional Movements Screenings (FMS) are a useful tool to quantify functional and movement patterns as well as impovemtns that may have occured when re testing the athlete after a period of training. It reuires the athlete to undertake a series of movmtns test includin a deep squat and a shoulder mobility test, which are graded on a score of 0-3, depending on the athletes capabilities.The movement assessments were carried out, as previously state before the in-season and before the training programme was carried out to quantify the ims of this training programme. THe FMS tests were then again carried out post training to anylses the potential improvements and to see if the aims and goals of the trainig programme were achieved. f this was the case, then the training programme was successful.

To further evaluate the progress of the athlete from pre to post the strength traiing programme, those maximal exercise tests that were carried out prior, were again repreated in orer to asses potenal incrments in 1RM scores.These tests included;

- Squat

- Bench Press

- Push Press

- Vertical Jump Test

- Illinois Agility Test

In order to test the 'progression' of these tests, the 2+2 rule was implemented. (Salandra, 2010). This meant that in the final part of the workout or maixmal repetition test, 2 further reps were added to see if the athlete could cope with the extra loading - if so the weight 1RM would increase. For the lower body, 4-6lkg would be added and for the upper body 2-4kg per extra rep. These tests also replicated similar sport specific movements.

The overhead medicine ball throw, which was used prior to the training programme, enable upper body strength to be measured. By carrying this out again after the stregth training, performance gains can be analysed.

Dietray anaylsis is a useful tool to observe changes or differences in dietary habits and hydration in the athletes. Additionally,the effect these can have on performance, which in turn may effect game play or training status during the year.Dehydration can leads to a decline in performace, affecting the muscualture as well as the cardiorespiratory system, with the inability of the body to regulate temperature if the athlete is dehydrated.

Finally, health screening may also be useful to ensure the athete physciolocally and psychologically well, in particular, during the high intensity and competitive season of the training year.

Report

From undertaking the training programme, it was expected that upper body strength would increase due to greater use and stimulation of the muscle fibres, developing power output as well as improvements in agility. In review, the functional movement screening (FMS), repetitions maximum tests and the physiology tests indicated the athlete achieved the goals set i.e to increase upper body strength.

FMS scores were reduced overall indicating an improvement in technique and strength, which she had previously lacked. In accordance with the literature, after strength training, hypertrophy of the muscle occurs as a result of increased capillary density and protein levels (Zatsiorsky & Kraemer, 2006) enhancing muscle mass, leading to a greater muscle cross sectional area, potentially explaining these strength/performance gains. The improvements were not solely physiologically, as performance gains, were achieved and observed during game play also. 
As a suitable training programme for the athlete, in the ‘in-season’ phase, benefits could explain the performance advancements such as; connective tissues become stronger, (Zatsiorsky & Kraemer, 2006) increasing joint stability, potentially reducing any further damage to the area. The Illinois agility test, demonstrated a fast completion time, indicating an increase in speed which required the rapid change in direction, facilitating agility. Studies have demonstrated the positive correlation between ball throwing and strength performance in the upper body. From the overhead medicine-ball throw test, the athlete was able to increase the distance covered, indicating an increase in upper body strength.