It was great to return to Preston North End Academy and continue working with the U14–U16 age group.
During this visit, I helped to conduct out our usual testing protocols, but placed a particular emphasis on two key assessments:
✅ 30-Meter Sprint Test (with split times)
Split distances: 2.5m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m, 30m
This test provides valuable insight into the different phases of sprinting — from initial acceleration to max velocity. For youth players, it’s especially important to assess how effectively they produce force and transition through each stage of sprinting. The split data helps us pinpoint specific areas for development, whether it’s early explosiveness or speed endurance.
✅ 5-0-5 Agility Test
The 5-0-5 is a simple but powerful tool to assess an athlete’s change of direction ability, which is essential in football. It also helps identify asymmetries between left and right turns, giving us vital information about movement efficiency and potential injury risk.
Why These Tests Matter for Youth Development
For players in the 14–16 age bracket, physical development can vary greatly. Testing helps us understand each individual’s physical profile and guides training programs based on objective data. It’s also a great way to track progression over time and ensure athletes are moving in the right direction both physically and technically
