NSCA CSCS - NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Athlete Assessment and Evaluation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A strength and conditioning specialist is conducting a performance assessment for a collegiate basketball team. Which of the following represents the MOST appropriate sequence for administering these tests in a single session?
- 1. Skinfold measurements, 2. Vertical jump, 3. T-test, 4. 1RM Power Clean, 5. 1.5-mile run (Correct answer)
- 1. 1.5-mile run, 2. 1RM Power Clean, 3. T-test, 4. Vertical jump, 5. Skinfold measurements
- 1. Vertical jump, 2. Skinfold measurements, 3. 1RM Power Clean, 4. T-test, 5. 1.5-mile run
- 1. T-test, 2. Vertical jump, 3. 1.5-mile run, 4. Skinfold measurements, 5. 1RM Power Clean
Correct answer: 1. Skinfold measurements, 2. Vertical jump, 3. T-test, 4. 1RM Power Clean, 5. 1.5-mile run
The correct sequence of testing is designed to minimize the effect of fatigue on subsequent tests. The proper order is: 1. Non-fatiguing tests (anthropometry like skinfolds), 2. Agility tests (T-test), 3. Maximum power and strength tests (vertical jump, 1RM power clean), 4. Sprint tests, 5. Local muscular endurance tests, and finally, 6. Fatiguing anaerobic and aerobic capacity tests (1.5-mile run). The correct answer follows this principle by starting with non-fatiguing measurements, progressing through power and agility, then strength, and finishing with the most fatiguing test, the aerobic capacity run.
Question 2: A strength and conditioning specialist wants to assess the maximal lower body power of a group of elite volleyball players. Which of the following tests has the HIGHEST degree of construct validity for this specific athletic quality?
- 1RM Back Squat
- 40-Yard Sprint
- Vertical Jump (Correct answer)
- Maximal Push-up Test
Correct answer: Vertical Jump
Construct validity refers to how well a test measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure. In this case, the construct is maximal lower body power. The vertical jump is a direct measure of explosive leg power, which is crucial for volleyball. While the 1RM back squat measures maximal strength and the 40-yard sprint measures maximal speed, the vertical jump is the most direct and specific field test for the ability to generate force rapidly in a vertical plane, which defines lower body power.
Question 3: A collegiate soccer player's time on the pro-agility (5-10-5) test is reported as being in the 75th percentile relative to her teammates. How should the strength and conditioning specialist interpret this result?
- The athlete's time was faster than 75% of her teammates. (Correct answer)
- The athlete completed 75% of the test correctly.
- The athlete was 25% slower than the fastest teammate.
- The athlete's time was slower than 75% of her teammates.
Correct answer: The athlete's time was faster than 75% of her teammates.
Percentile rank indicates the percentage of scores that fall below a particular score. An athlete in the 75th percentile for a test where a lower score (faster time) is better means that her performance was superior to (i.e., faster than) 75% of the individuals in the comparison group. The other options misinterpret the meaning of percentile ranking.
Question 4: When analyzing the 1RM bench press scores for a large football team, the strength and conditioning specialist notices that the scores of two elite offensive linemen are significantly higher than the rest of the team. Which measure of central tendency would be MOST appropriate to describe the typical score of the group?
- Range
- Mean
- Mode
- Median (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Median
The median is the middle value in a dataset when the data are ranked in order. It is the most appropriate measure of central tendency when there are significant outliers because it is not affected by extreme values. The mean (average) would be skewed upward by the two very high scores, giving a less accurate representation of the 'typical' athlete's score. The mode is the most frequent score and may not be representative, while the range measures variability, not central tendency.
Question 5: A strength and conditioning specialist is using the Jackson-Pollock 3-site formula to estimate the body composition of a female collegiate swimmer. Which of the following combinations of anatomical sites is correct for this specific protocol?
- Chest, Abdomen, Thigh
- Triceps, Suprailiac, Thigh (Correct answer)
- Subscapular, Midaxillary, Abdomen
- Triceps, Subscapular, Calf
Correct answer: Triceps, Suprailiac, Thigh
The Jackson-Pollock 3-site skinfold protocol has gender-specific sites. For females, the correct three sites are the Triceps, Suprailiac (a diagonal fold just above the iliac crest), and the anterior Thigh. The combination of Chest, Abdomen, and Thigh is used for the male 3-site protocol.
Question 6: To ensure high inter-rater reliability when multiple coaches are administering the T-test to a large group of athletes, which of the following is the MOST crucial action to take?
- Allowing each coach to use their own preferred timing device.
- Testing athletes at different times of the day to be flexible.
- Providing varied levels of verbal encouragement to each athlete.
- Ensuring all coaches use standardized instructions and timing procedures. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ensuring all coaches use standardized instructions and timing procedures.
Inter-rater reliability refers to the degree of agreement among different raters or testers. To achieve high inter-rater reliability, it is essential that the test is administered in the exact same way by every coach. This includes using standardized instructions, consistent verbal cues, the same timing methods, and a strict adherence to the test protocol. Variations in any of these factors will introduce error and lower the reliability of the results.
NSCA CSCS - NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Athlete Assessment and Evaluation Questions and Answers
A strength and conditioning specialist is conducting a performance assessment for a collegiate basketball team.
Which of the following represents the MOST appropriate sequence for administering these tests in a single session?