American Football Testing with a Mobile Application
Poikonen, Max (2018)
Poikonen, Max
Kajaanin ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805168488
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805168488
Tiivistelmä
American football is a physically demanding sport, which has grown internationally over the past
couple of decades. With the increase of interest in physical abilities around the sport, testing and
measuring these abilities has become more popular for player comparison. This thesis provides
theoretical knowledge on the main physical abilities of the sport and performance testing. The objective
of the study was to acquire knowledge on the most relevant physical abilities and the suitable
measurement methods for these on youth American football players in Finland. This thesis
was commissioned by the American Football Association of Finland (SAJL). SAJL’s aim for this
work was to examine whether a mobile application would ease the process of collecting test results.
The author’s aim for this thesis was to gather theoretical knowledge on and practical experience
in physical performance testing with regards to American football. The study also examines the
possibilities of modern technology, which can be used to aid in the testing event. A mobile application
is presented in this work and the report on its suitability is included in the practical part of
the thesis. The application was tested in field conditions and the report assessed its timeliness,
reliability, convenience, and software and hardware dependency.
The main findings of the theoretical part suggest that the main abilities emphasized in American
football are speed, strength, and power and testing protocols for these abilities tend to vary
based on the test subject and the conductor of the tests. The analysis of the application’s practicality
insinuates that it may not be the best available solution for SAJL.
couple of decades. With the increase of interest in physical abilities around the sport, testing and
measuring these abilities has become more popular for player comparison. This thesis provides
theoretical knowledge on the main physical abilities of the sport and performance testing. The objective
of the study was to acquire knowledge on the most relevant physical abilities and the suitable
measurement methods for these on youth American football players in Finland. This thesis
was commissioned by the American Football Association of Finland (SAJL). SAJL’s aim for this
work was to examine whether a mobile application would ease the process of collecting test results.
The author’s aim for this thesis was to gather theoretical knowledge on and practical experience
in physical performance testing with regards to American football. The study also examines the
possibilities of modern technology, which can be used to aid in the testing event. A mobile application
is presented in this work and the report on its suitability is included in the practical part of
the thesis. The application was tested in field conditions and the report assessed its timeliness,
reliability, convenience, and software and hardware dependency.
The main findings of the theoretical part suggest that the main abilities emphasized in American
football are speed, strength, and power and testing protocols for these abilities tend to vary
based on the test subject and the conductor of the tests. The analysis of the application’s practicality
insinuates that it may not be the best available solution for SAJL.