SPARQ wants to test and reveal your athleticism in the most accurate, relevant way possible, so you can know what you
need to do to change and elevate your game.
After over 2 years of testing fastpitch athletes using the old rating, the SPARQ Rating for fastpitch has evolved. The old rating was good; the new rating is better. What's better about it? Authenticity. Calculation. Comparison. Relevance.
The old test of linear speed was a 30-Yard Dash – great for baseball players; not for fastpitch athletes. The new 20-Yard Dash not only tests linear acceleration and speed but is a better indicator of home to first base time.
The calculation changed, too. Our combined-event scoring makes it easy for the athlete, coach and trainer to identify the athlete's strengths and weaknesses in each multi-dimensional test. Then each test is scaled by percentile on our comprehensive Performance Curve. What's all this math mean? The better your performance - the more points you get - the higher your level of athleticism.
The following are the updated 2008 SPARQ Fastpitch Testing Protocols. If you have any questions about the ratings or protocols, post your question on the message boards.
After over 2 years of testing fastpitch athletes using the old rating, the SPARQ Rating for fastpitch has evolved. The old rating was good; the new rating is better. What's better about it? Authenticity. Calculation. Comparison. Relevance.
The old test of linear speed was a 30-Yard Dash – great for baseball players; not for fastpitch athletes. The new 20-Yard Dash not only tests linear acceleration and speed but is a better indicator of home to first base time.
The calculation changed, too. Our combined-event scoring makes it easy for the athlete, coach and trainer to identify the athlete's strengths and weaknesses in each multi-dimensional test. Then each test is scaled by percentile on our comprehensive Performance Curve. What's all this math mean? The better your performance - the more points you get - the higher your level of athleticism.
The following are the updated 2008 SPARQ Fastpitch Testing Protocols. If you have any questions about the ratings or protocols, post your question on the message boards.
20-Yard Dash:
Not even pros can rely on homeruns to let them take their sweet time rounding the bases. In fastpitch, you need to hustle.Home through first; first to second. The 20-Yard Dash measures both your acceleration from a standing start and your ability to transition to top speed, all in 3 to 4 seconds. And that's just for a single. A good 20-Yard Dash means you're an athlete who can round the bases. And rounding bases wins points.
In addition to your speed on the basepath, a good 20-Yard Dash time also indicates your ability to sprint to the play in the outfield. Making plays and gaining possession is great defense in a game where position, acceleration, and speed will often dictate the outcome of decisive game situations.
Vertical Jump:
Why test a jump? A high score in the Vertical Jump reveals an athlete's lower-body peak power, and is a reliable indicator of whether you can move your body quicker off the line. This translates to how quickly you can explode off your lead for a steal, and how fast you can slide.Knowing your abilities in the Vertical Jump will help you and your coach make decisions in the clutch. And it doesn't hurt to be able to launch your glove an extra few feet overhead to snag a pop fly.
Agility Shuttle:
Change of direction speed. You're taking a lead and then "Strike that, reverse it!" In fastpitch, your direction can turn on a dime. The Agility Shuttle reveals your ability to change direction while maintaining control of your body.In a flash, what was a power hit is now a foul, and you have to react quickly to tag up safe. Or picture a runner caught in monkey-in-the-middle between bases; the runner has to slow down, turn around, and maintain control if she's going to make the base and outmaneuver her opponent. This deceleration, change of posture, reorientation, and acceleration again is exactly what the Agility Shuttle measures.
With a good Shuttle time you're better equipped to succeed in reacting and executing the lightning-quick demands of the fastpitch ballgame.
Rotational Power Ball Throw:
Power is generated from the core. The stronger your core, the more potential you have generating power – in throwing or in batting.You're at bat. Your primary goals are power and direction -- you have to generate as much power as possible, and rotate your body to transfer that power through your core and arms, through the bat and into the ball.
The Rotational Power Ball Throw measures rotational power and core strength - the same attributes relied upon in throwing and batting mechanics in fastpitch. It's also a reflection of total body power. Find an athlete with a high Rotational Power Ball Throw score and you've found an athlete with incredible batting and throwing potential.
