Course description

This practical, evidence-informed course teaches coaches and sport scientists to conduct field- and lab-based assessments for team-sport athletes and individual performers, create physical-performance profiles centered on maximum sprinting speed (MSS) and maximum aerobic speed (MAS), and prescribe targeted training interventions. The curriculum blends hands-on testing protocols, data interpretation, and ready-to-use templates so practitioners can rapidly implement assessment-to-program workflows.

Who this course is for

• Strength and conditioning coaches, performance directors, sport scientists, and fitness professionals working with team sports or individual athletes

• Coaches seeking practical protocols for on-field and laboratory testing

• Practitioners who want reproducible templates to streamline assessment, profiling, and training prescription

What you will learn

• Standardized field and lab protocols to measure: maximum sprinting speed (short- and long-distance sprints), acceleration, repeated-sprint ability, and maximum aerobic speed (incremental tests, time trials)

• Test selection criteria: when to use field tests vs. lab tests, equipment requirements, reliability and validity considerations

• Practical testing workflows: warm-up, test order, safety and workload control, data capture, and quality checks

• Data processing and metrics: calculating MSS and MAS, relative intensity zones, fatigue indices, and velocity-based metrics

• Individual and team profiling: creating concise physical profiles that combine MSS and MAS with contextual variables (position, age, training history)

• Training prescription principles: how to program speed, power, and aerobic development based on MSS and MAS; periodization considerations for in-season, off-season, and return-to-play phases

• Progression and monitoring: how to set targets, adjust load, and interpret change over time

• Ready-to-use templates: test protocols, data-collection sheets, athlete profile reports, sample microcycle and mesocycle templates, and athlete feedback forms

Course format and deliverables

• Step-by-step protocols for common field tests (e.g., 10–40 m sprint protocols, flying sprints, repeated sprint tests) and common lab tests (e.g., treadmill or track-based incremental protocols for MAS)

• Example calculations and worked examples for deriving MSS and MAS and translating those into speed- and aerobic-based training zones

• Editable templates for immediate use: testing checklist, data log, athlete profile report, individualized training prescription, and group planning templates

• Case studies demonstrating profiling and prescription across positions, age groups, and training contexts

• Practical troubleshooting and common pitfalls when measuring MSS and MAS

Outcomes and benefits

• Confidently run accurate, repeatable assessments in field and lab settings

• Produce concise athlete profiles grounded in MSS and MAS that inform training priorities

• Design targeted, evidence-aligned training interventions for speed and aerobic performance

• Save time with ready-to-use templates that streamline testing, reporting, and program design

• Improve decision-making for athlete selection, load management, and progression planning

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of exercise physiology and typical strength & conditioning practices

• Access to standard field testing equipment but optional (timing gates or radar/LiDAR, measured sprint distances, cones) and/or laboratory equipment for incremental testing as available

Duration and format

• Flexible and online; materials provided to implement immediately within your program

This course equips practitioners to move from measurement to meaningful action: accurately quantify MSS and MAS, profile athletes and teams, and prescribe targeted training using ready-to-use templates proven in applied settings.