ABSTRACT
Field and laboratory tests are frequently used to evaluate the physiological capacities of athletes. Common field tests include sprint times, vertical jump height and long jump distance. Tests conducted in the laboratory with isokinetic dynamometers can determine the strength and anaerobic muscular endurance of particular muscle groups. Isokinetic measures have been shown to significantly correlate with many aspects of athletic performance (Wrigley, 1999), but data on Australian Rules footballers is lacking. Field tests are generally used where utility and cost are important, whereas laboratory tests are used where additional precision and control is required. Investigating the association between field and laboratory tests will assist in the determination of which field tests to conduct when laboratory access is limited. Additionally, relationships may be identified which have implications for training and enhancing performance. It may be found that strength of a particular muscle group (e.g. quadriceps versus hamstrings) is more related to a particular motor skill (e.g. sprinting). The aim of this investigation was to determine the association between some common field tests and laboratory tests for elite ARF players.
