SPARQ Testing for Basketball
Do you have what it takes to be a basketball player? The SPARQ is a rating system designed to measure sport-specific athleticism. The results from these tests are combined and weighted using a formula specific to basketball.
Current Basketball SPARQ Testing Protocol
- Height — a very important attribute for basketball players
- Body mass — used with the vertical jump result to calculate a leg power score.
- Lane Agility Drill — measures how fast a player moves laterally around the key (used in the NBA draft too)
- Standing Vertical Jump — a measure of leg explosive power.
- Kneeling Power Ball Throw — performed like a chest pass while kneeling, this test measures upper body power. It is also called the Chest Launch.
- 3/4 Court Sprint — time to sprint over the distance of three quarters of the court is measured in seconds (used in NBA draft too)
- Multi-Stage Hurdle — a test of agility and lower body strength endurance.
- Max Touch — a basketball specific test that measures maximum touch height, which reflects stature and wingspan with the physical abilities of jump mechanics and explosive leg power.
Previous SPARQ Testing Protocol
The following tests used to make up the assessments in the Basketball SPARQ, but have been superseded with the tests described above.
- One Step Vertical Jump — jumping for maximum height, this test measures explosiveness, and is a reliable indicator of speed. Requiring a single step approach, this test is best measured using a Vertec though other methods may be used.
- 20 Meter Dash — a straight line sprint test that measures acceleration, and is a reliable indicator of speed, agility and quickness.
- 30 Second Endurance Jump — measures agility and lower body strength endurance
- Overhead Power Ball Throw — The test involves throwing a Power Ball over the head for maximum distance. It measures core strength and total body power (boys use a 3kg ball, girls and youth use 2kg)
- Agility Cone Drill — A lateral movement test that measures the agility of the athlete, particularly body control, lateral speed and ability to change directions.
- The SPARQ Magazine (Summer 2008) listed the highest Basketball SPARQ rating score recored for hoops was 89.70 by Brandan Wright, a 6' 9" forward who plays for the Golden State Warriors. Also notable was the score of 86.80 recorded by NCAA All-American Derrick Rose.
- About the SPARQ Rating System
- Fitness Testing at the NBA Combine
- NBA Pre-Draft Fitness Test selected results
- Fitness Testing for basketball
- Poll: Fitness components for basketball
- More on fitness testing from the fitness testing section