SPARQ CERTIFIED TRAINER

What is SPARQ?  SPARQ is an acronym for Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness, and refers to the testing standard developed by Nike executives and Pro/NCAA master trainers. The company publishes SPARQ Magazine and provides a system for measuring a person’s athleticism in different sports called the SPARQ Rating.

What is a SPARQ Rating?  The SPARQ Rating is a quantitative measurement of the relative athleticism of athletes in different sports. The rating is formulated from various tests results involving speed, agility and power so that an athlete in Arizona, for example, can see how he or she compares with athletes from around the Country or even the world. A SPARQ Rating for sports is analogous to the SAT Test for academics.

What tests are involved in a SPARQ Rating?  Each sport has its own series of tests that approximate the athletic requirements of that sport. For example, in baseball the athlete is measured in the vertical jump, the shuttle run, the 30-yard dash, and the rotational power ball throw. These numbers are fed into the SPARQ computer to get an Athlete’s SPARQ Rating.

Why is a SPARQ Rating important?  While success in any sport depends on a number of factors including sport-specific skills, hard work, desire, competitiveness and knowledge of the game, a SPARQ Rating provides important information about that athlete that can be used for a person’s future athletic development. One of the most important tools of the SPARQ Rating is its use as a motivational stimulus for improvement. Coaches, scouts, and recruiters are now using
the SPARQ rating as an indicator of overall performance and ability in a given sport. We can show you tips and tricks to maximize your test performance.