How the Club uses data to support player development

To help us monitor and optimize player's performance, we keep players’ the attached Wellness Questionnaire as frequently as possible—ideally daily. Regular feedback allows us to better understand the player's physical readiness, recovery, and overall well-being, ensuring a safe and effective training experience.

European Standardized Soccer Specific Physical Fitness Tests.
Athletic Club Miami has been using the European Standardized Soccer Specific Physical Fitness Tests since the establishment of the club. The test concludes 5-10-30m dash; Arrow-head Run, Yo-yo Intermittent Recovery Test and Broad Jump. The speed runs are measured with 0.01 seconds accurate Broward System photocells.
Among many reasons the most important factors to choose these physical tests was that we had experience from Europe and comperable results from the MLS Combine, Polish Div. I. and Hungarian Div. I. youth clubs. Not lastly these test are proven to be effective workouts to improve soccer specific speed as well.
Test Protocols. Tests practiced on the natural grass, in the South-Florida area in different times of the year and, therefore in different temperatures and training pitches. Before the tests, all players participate in a 15-25 minutes warm-up workout. At the waiting times of the between tests, all players were kept active by easy walking-jogging and stretching exercises to avoid cool down.
5-10-30 Meters Tests Protocols. 5 meters, 10 meters and 30 meters sprint tests has similar protocols. The photocells settled the starting and finishing points of the distance 5 meters, 10 meters and 30 meters. All players have started at the line of the starting with their front foot. The best scores of the players from two runs were recorded in the 5, 10, 30m;
Arrow-head run Protocol. We use our previous modified Arrow-head run test protocol that has been shown in Figure 2 on the right. 130 cm height sticks have been used. All players have started at the line of the starting with their front foot. Arrow-head runs are completed to the LEFT and RIGHT side and the better time is recorded from the two runs.

The Yo-Yo test (Source: click here!) is a maximal aerobic endurance fitness test, involving running between markers placed 20 meters apart, at increasing speeds, until exhaustion. The test was developed in the 1990s by the Danish soccer physiologist Jens Bangsbo and his colleagues, and is now one of the most commonly conducted fitness test around the world.

There are quite a few variations of the yo-yo test (see Yo-Yo Test Versions), though the most commonly used version is the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1, also called YYIRT1, IR1.
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 involves running between two markers 20 meters apart, following audio cues which dictate the running speed required. After each 40 meters run, the participants have an active break of 10 seconds before running 40 meters again. At regular intervals, the required running speed increases. The test continues until the participants are no longer able to keep up with the required pace. 

We have listed the instructions for conducting the test. The timings for the test is not simple, and to conduct the yo-yo test you need an audio recording of the test. You can purchase the yo-yo test mp3 audio file, or find out where else you can get it.

The results achieved will depend on the version used, so you need to make sure which one it is (see these tables for comparison). For the YYIR1, test scores can range from level (or stage) 5 up to level 23, though females may average around 12 and males 16. What is a good score? There are fitness rating tables for the YYIR1.

We have many more yo-yo test resources, such as printable recording sheets.
(Source: click here!)