Shoes: The athlete's preferred cleated shoe

Method: First measure the standing reach. This can be done in a variety of ways. The player stands sideways to the measurement apparatus (in the shoes they will be tested in) and reaches one arm straight up

• The distance from the ground can be measured next to some stationary object like a wall. Set up a measured distance using tape, tape measure or other measurement method.
• The distance from the ground can be measured using the Vertec. Set the Vertec to one of the measured heights on the calibrated stand. The player reaches up and touches the wands. Add the appropriate inches to the starting marker (white = ½ inch, red=l inch, blue=6 inches). Measure everyone in the group at the same time to avoid raising and lowering the Vertec for each player.
• To avoid raising and lowering the Vertec for measuring standing height, set the height of the Vertec to the estimated maximum jump height for your players (10' or 10'6" is reasonable).

The player steps back, takes a I-step approach to a 2 foot take-off, The player reaches as far as possible at the top of their jump. The best of 3 trials is recorded by subtracting the highest jump from the standing reach.

Considerations:

1. Instruct the players that they are not spiking the Vertec. They need not hit the wands with excessive force, They only have to move them.
2. Hit the wand at the top of their jump, not going up or coming down. Tell them to reach as high as possible.
3. Only I-step approach and a 2 foot take-off. This is not a layup.
4. You might stand on the Vertec base. Subjects may hit the Vertec hard and possibly knock it over.
5. If you have the player do all three jumps in succession, leave the wands as is after each jump to give them a goal to exceed.
6. Watch closely. Some people hit the wands so hard that the wands spin completely around back to the starting point and you might record a lower height than actual.
7. Have the player jump and reach with the inside arm to avoid colliding with the Vertec while jumping.