We live in a "numbers-based" world.

Players want to know where they "stack-up" relative to their peers, and the easiest way to judge where they stand is by comparing their "numbers" to those of the competition.

One goalie may be considered better than another because they have a better winning percentage.

One forward may be considered better than another because they score more points.

There are hundreds factors that lead to some teams and players excelling more than others.  However, unlike some more subjective measures of performance, fitness testing numbers give us an objective measuring stick that we can use to determine where we stand.

Fitness testing for young female players is becoming more commonplace.  Although young players are now routinely being tested on their strength, speed, power and conditioning, many coaches and parents remain unsure as to what they should do with the results.

Obviously, a player's scores on these tests are not the 'be all and end all' of their playing careers.  A coach should never base an evaluation of a player solely on their fitness testing numbers alone.  Every coach in the world would prefer that their athletes excel on the ice, rather than at the tests themselves.  You are always going to look at an athlete's ability to perform in competition long before you consider an athlete's score in the standing long jump.  That being said, it is still important for coaches to have an idea of where their players stand in terms of fitness so that they can plan their off-ice and on-ice programs accordingly.

The reality is that these tests are not being done for the coaches - they are being done for the players.

Young female hockey players that are looking to take their game to the next level of performance are often looking for 'the edge' that will allow them to stand out from their competition.  So while their performance in off-ice testing is certainly not the only indicator of their ability to excel on the ice, it is an objective way for players to determine where they stand relative to their peers and to their own past performances off the ice.  More than that, it gives players an idea of what abilities they need to improve on to get to the next level.

There is a direct connection between an player's performance on the ice and their commitment and dedication to improvement off the ice.  Good hockey players are a 'dime-a-dozen', while players who are seriously committed to improving off their off-ice abilities are much harder to come by.  And it is this commitment to off-ice improvement that quite often separates the 'best' from the 'rest'.  Testing gives players an idea of where they are starting from in terms of fitness and allows them to plan how they are going to improve accordingly.

After all, if you want to know where you are going, you need to know where you are starting from.

About The Author
Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS is an Athletic Development Specialist and founder of Total Female Hockey.  In addition to training and coaching girls at all levels of hockey, from novice to the National team, Kim has also played at the highest level of women's hockey in the world for the last decade.