2nd annual combine tests athletic skills
High school athletes measure their strengths
May 14, 2008
High School CombineThe second annual MdCV High School
Combine was held Saturday, May 3, at Marais des Cygnes Valley High
School. The event, which is used to test certain athletic qualities
of sport participants, began at 9:30 a.m. in the high school
gym.
First, students were measured by height and weight. Then they
completed four skill sets in the gym: broad jump, 3-cone shuffle,
20-yard Pro Agility shuffle, and vertical jump. From here, they
moved to the weight room, to test their ability to bench press 155
pounds. The chilly morning drills concluded with a walk to the
track, where students completed a 10-yard dash followed by a longer
40-yard dash.
Except for the bench press, each skill was tested twice. Only
the best of the two scores was kept. Assisting Coach Trent Douglas
in the event were Thad Thurston, Danny Rice, Jeremy Lingenfelter,
Bob Harred, and Thane Douglas.
Coach Douglas said, "We base the tests off of the combine the NFL
uses to evaluate college players for the draft, but I don't know
why it is called a combine. We started it because I wanted to take
some kids to a college combine, but it would have cost them $50, so
I figured we could just have our own."
The equipment used to measure the vertical jump was an upright
metal base, which was topped with movable vanes spaced 1/2-inch
apart that rotated when touched, to facilitate approximate
measurement of arm reach. This skill is an indication of lower body
strength.
For the 3-cone shuffle, three cones are placed five yards apart in
an inverted "L" position. From Cone A, the athlete sprints to Cone
B and back to Cone A. From Cone A, he continues to sprint around
the outside of Cone B toward the inside of Cone C, around Cone C,
and then back to the outside of Cone B and back to the finish line
at Cone A. During this skill set, the player must not knock over
any cones. A stopwatch records the time used to complete the
trial.
The standing broad jump is measured as the distance from the
starting line, to the back of the nearest heel to the start line.
The athlete must jump and be able to "stick" the landing, without
falling or reaching back with his hand.
In the Pro Agility Run, the athlete begins on the center court
line, runs to the right and touches the five-yard line, turns and
runs 10 yards the other way, touches the five-yard line on the
left-hand side of center court, turns yet again, and runs though
the center court line as quickly as possible.
In the bench press, each athlete is given only one opportunity
to achieve a maximum number of repetitions. Each repetition counts
only if the athlete touches the bar to his chest and then extends
his arms completely. This is a measurement of upper body
strength.
The 10-yard dash is a measure of quickness, while the 40-yard dash
is considered a measure of straight ahead speed.
Each participant received a blue, short-sleeved t-shirt stating the
date and the event on the front, and the seven skills tested on the
back.
2008 Combine
Results
2007 Combine
Results
