Individual athlete profiling: athlete testing and monitoring methodologies and interpretation

Individual athlete profiling: Athlete testing and monitoring methodologies and interpretation

Understanding individual athlete physiological characteristics are important to profile strengths and weaknesses, target training requirements and to optimise the training stimulus and response at an individual level. Testing and monitoring should align to as many of the critical performance factors of the sport as possible. Accurate measurement and interpretation should provide objective data regarding the effectiveness of previous interventions, as well as inform future interventions to enhance performance. Additionally, testing and monitoring may also provide opportunities for exploration into other areas such as talent identification, event selection and competition specific considerations (e.g., warm up, pacing, ergogenic aids).

1. Direct physiological assessment
2. Exercise (e.g., metabolic, thermoregulatory) and other (e.g., haematology, sleep, heart rate variability, hydration)
3. Neuromuscular, anaerobic, and aerobic
4. Laboratory and field
5. Physical performance assessment (e.g., power profiling, critical speed/power assessment, GPS monitoring)
6. Performance analysis – training and competition monitoring
7. Gender specific considerations
8. Para-athlete and impairment specific considerations
9. Development/maturation level considerations
10. Physique assessment (concepts and techniques) and impact on health and performance
11. Behavioural, cognitive, emotional, habitual and knowledge assessment (e.g., wellness questionnaires)