St Johns Girls (Ages 14–18) – Performance Testing Overview

Over the past week, athletes in our St Johns Girls (Ages 14–18) program at Aspire Academy NZ completed structured performance testing as part of their long-term athlete development pathway.

These assessments provide objective data on key physical qualities that underpin sporting performance, including speed, agility, jump power, and reactive strength. All results published represent each athlete’s best valid attempt on the day.

Why We Test

At Aspire Academy NZ, performance testing is not about rankings or comparison. It is a tool for understanding the individual athlete.

We use testing to:

• Establish clear baseline measures

• Identify individual strengths and development priorities

• Guide coaching focus within group environments

• Track progress over time, not just performance on a single day

Objective data allows our coaching decisions to be informed, targeted, and appropriate for each athlete’s stage of development.

What Was Tested

Athletes completed the following assessments:

Sprint Testing (20m)

• 10m Split 1 (acceleration)

• 10m Split 2 (speed transition)

• 20m Total Time

This provides insight into how athletes generate and maintain speed.

5–10–5 Agility Test

Assesses braking ability, change of direction efficiency, and re-acceleration — key qualities in multidirectional sports.

Countermovement Jump (CMJ)

Measures lower-body power and force production.

Reactive Strength Index (RSI)

Evaluates how effectively athletes absorb and reapply force during fast ground contacts.

Broad Jump

Assesses horizontal power and coordination.

How to Interpret the Results

Testing captures performance on a single day and can be influenced by factors such as fatigue, growth, coordination, and training history.

For this reason, we encourage athletes and parents to:

• Focus on individual scores, not peer comparison

• Use results as reference points, not labels

• Understand that development is not linear, particularly during adolescence

Two athletes can post very different scores while both making excellent progress relative to their own starting points.

A Reminder on Comparison

The most important question we ask is not “Who scored the highest?” but:

“Is this athlete improving over time?”

Our goal at Aspire Academy NZ is to develop athletes who:

• Move efficiently and confidently

• Build physical resilience

• Develop habits that support long-term sporting success

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Performance testing supports this by helping us coach with intent and clarity, while respecting each athlete’s unique development timeline.

What Happens Next

These results will be used to:

• Inform upcoming training blocks

• Refine coaching emphasis where required

• Re-test later in the program to track progress

Athletes are encouraged to view testing as a starting point, not a final judgment.

If you have any questions about your athlete’s results or how they will be applied within training, please contact our coaching team.

We look forward to supporting each athlete’s continued development throughout the term.