Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): 4-1-23 30-15 Intermittent Aerobic Test (Start Time: 2023-01-04 11:00:00)

Screen 1 (25 mins)

⚽Practice Organization

• It is important to note that whenever fitness testing is performed, it must be done so in a consistent environment (i.e. facility), so that it is protected from varying weather types, and with a dependable surface that is not affected by wet or slippery conditions. If the environment is not consistent, the reliability of repeated tests at later dates can be substantially hindered and result in worthless data.
• Facility – Consistent, flat and non-slip (minimum length 45m)
• Marking Cones
• Measuring tape (≥40m)
• 30-15 IFT audio CD or MP3
• CD or MP3 player with loudspeaker (volume of the speaker is particularly important).
• Performance recording sheet.
• Officiator recording the number of shuttles completed (explained in ‘Scoring’ section).

• The 30-15 IFT consists of 30-second shuttle runs interspersed with 15-second walking recovery periods. The test starting speed is 8 km/h (i.e. first 30-second shuttle run), and this speed increases by 0.5 km/h for every 30-second stage thereafter. So, the running speed at stage 1 is 8km/h, stage 2 is 8.5km/h, stage 3 at 9km/h and so on.
• Athletes are required to run back and forth between the two lines set 40-metres apart (Figure 1) at a speed governed by an audio “beep”. As the individual progresses through the levels, the time between the beeps decreases giving the individual less time to complete each shuttle, thus increasing the speed/intensity of the test.
• The two 3-metre zones in the middle of the testing area (6-metres in total) exist so that the athletes can gauge the required running speed, and therefore adjust their speed accordingly (i.e. speed-up or slow-down). The two 3-metre end zones/turning lines also help guide the athlete to adjust/maintain their speed. During the 15-second recovery period, athletes are required to walk in a forward direction towards the closest 3-metre zone; this zone is where they will start the next running stage from
• Athletes must reach the next 3-metre zone – either the middle one or the end zones – on a consistent basis. Failure to reach the next 3-metre zone on three consecutive occasions results in elimination from the test.
  

• • Participants begin the test from the ‘start-line’ (Zone A)
  • When instructed by the audio player, the athletes must run towards the next 3-metre zone and reach it by the following audio beep, they must continue doing this for the entire 30-seconds.
  • Zones A and C, located 40-metres apart, are both turning-lines. This simply means when athletes reach these zones, they must turn around and begin running towards the opposite zone.
  • A distinctive change in the audio beep will signal the beginning of the 15-second recovery period. During the recovery period, athletes are required to walk slowly, staying with the 3-metre zone, and prepare for the following 30-second interval.
  • They must repeat this action continuously until they reach voluntarily exhaustion.
  • If the athlete fails to reach a 3-metre recovery zone before the ‘beep’, the participant is issued with one fail attempt. If the athlete receives three consecutive fail attempts, they are withdrawn from the test and their score recorded as final. However, if the individual reaches the zone before the second consecutive beep, their fail attempts are reset.
  • Once withdrawn from the test, the individual’s score must be recorded.
  
  

• Scoring System

  The speed of the last stage the athlete completes is recorded as their test score. For example, if the athlete completes the 19km/h stage, but fails and drops out at stage 19.5km/h, then 19km/h is recorded as their performance score.