NSCA CSCS Athlete Assessment and Evaluation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A strength coach needs to assess upper-body muscular endurance in a collegiate football player without expensive equipment. Which test is most appropriate?
- 1RM bench press
- Maximum push-up test (Correct answer)
- Isokinetic shoulder rotation test
- Isotonic dumbbell curl test to fatigue
Correct answer: Maximum push-up test
The maximum push-up test is a valid, equipment-free field assessment of upper-body muscular endurance.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a criterion-referenced standard in athlete testing?
- Comparing an athlete's vertical jump to age-group norms
- Setting a minimum broad jump distance for return-to-play clearance (Correct answer)
- Ranking athletes by their 40-yard dash time within the team
- Adjusting body composition scores based on sport-specific averages
Correct answer: Setting a minimum broad jump distance for return-to-play clearance
Criterion-referenced standards set a specific performance threshold that must be met, such as a minimum jump distance for return-to-play rather than comparing to peers.
Question 3: An athlete's power clean 1RM is used to assess which physical quality?
- Maximal aerobic capacity
- Explosive power and rate of force development (Correct answer)
- Isometric muscular endurance
- Anaerobic glycolytic capacity
Correct answer: Explosive power and rate of force development
The power clean requires rapid force production and is used as a field measure of explosive power and rate of force development.
Question 4: Which of the following testing sequences is recommended to minimize fatigue carry-over between tests on the same day?
- Aerobic capacity → strength → power → speed
- Speed/power → strength → anaerobic capacity → aerobic capacity (Correct answer)
- Strength → aerobic capacity → speed → power
- Anaerobic capacity → speed → power → strength
Correct answer: Speed/power → strength → anaerobic capacity → aerobic capacity
Testing should proceed from least to most metabolically taxing: speed/power first, then strength, anaerobic capacity, and aerobic capacity last.
Question 5: When interpreting skinfold measurements, which factor most significantly affects the accuracy of body fat percentage estimation?
- Time of day the measurement is taken
- Technician skill and consistent site identification (Correct answer)
- The brand of skinfold caliper used
- The athlete's hydration status on the day prior
Correct answer: Technician skill and consistent site identification
Technician experience and precise anatomical site location are the primary determinants of skinfold measurement accuracy and reliability.
Question 6: A strength and conditioning specialist administers the 1.5-mile run test to estimate VO2max. Which athlete characteristic would most likely cause an overestimation of aerobic capacity using this test?
- High motivation and competitive drive
- Excessive body fat reducing running economy (Correct answer)
- Elite distance running experience
- High aerobic enzyme activity
Correct answer: Excessive body fat reducing running economy
Excess body fat impairs running economy, causing the athlete to work harder than expected for the pace, leading to an underestimation of VO2max, not overestimation — excessive body fat reduces performance, making predicted VO2max lower.
Question 7: Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when selecting a fitness test battery for a youth athlete population?
- Using the same tests as professional athletes for benchmarking purposes
- Ensuring tests are age-appropriate, safe, and match the developmental stage (Correct answer)
- Selecting tests with the highest sensitivity for detecting performance differences
- Choosing tests that require minimal time and equipment regardless of relevance
Correct answer: Ensuring tests are age-appropriate, safe, and match the developmental stage
Test selection for youth athletes must prioritize developmental appropriateness, safety, and alignment with the physical and cognitive maturity of the age group.
NSCA CSCS Athlete Assessment and Evaluation 5
A strength coach needs to assess upper-body muscular endurance in a collegiate football player without expensive equipment.
Which test is most appropriate?