Anterior Hop Test Normative Data & Performance Interpretation

The Anterior Hop Test is widely used to assess single-leg horizontal power, control, and confidence. While distance alone is useful, its real value comes from comparing performance against normative reference data rather than relying on symmetry or change alone.

Recent work by Weber et al. (2024) provides age- and sex-specific normative values that help place hop performance into meaningful context.

Anterior Hop Test Normative Values (Mean ± SD)

• Males (College): 192 ± 20 cm

• Males (High School): 181 ± 20 cm

• Females (College): 149 ± 17 cm

• Females (High School): 129 ± 18 cm

These benchmarks allow practitioners to move beyond “better than last time” and towards expected capacity.

Why This Matters

Athletes

For athletes, hop distance is often interpreted through limb symmetry alone. However, symmetry does not guarantee adequate performance capacity.

Normative data helps answer:

• Is this athlete symmetrical but still underperforming compared to peers?

• Does hop distance align with sport demands and level of competition?

• Is the athlete returning to play with sufficient horizontal power, not just confidence?

Using norms alongside symmetry improves decision-making around:

• Return-to-performance benchmarks

• Performance profiling

• Objective goal setting

General Population

In non-athletic populations, hop performance provides insight into:

• Lower-limb power capacity

• Confidence with single-leg loading

• Functional performance relative to age and sex

Normative values help frame results in a way clients understand:

• “Where do I sit compared to others like me?”

• “Is this a strength, or an area to improve?”

This context improves buy-in, motivation, and long-term engagement with assessment-driven programs.

Real-World Case Example

A 20-year-old male recreational athlete completes an Anterior Hop Test following a structured training block.

• Right leg: 185 cm

• Left leg: 183 cm

• Asymmetry: <2%

At first glance, this appears to be an excellent result — minimal asymmetry and consistent performance.

However, when compared to college-aged male norms (192 ± 20 cm), overall hop distance sits slightly below the group mean.

Key takeaway:
Symmetry alone suggests readiness, but normative data highlights a potential opportunity to further develop horizontal power capacity.

This insight allows practitioners to:

• Set clearer performance targets

• Justify continued focus on power development

• Communicate progress without relying on subjective judgement

Using Normative Data the Right Way

Normative values are not pass/fail rules. They are context tools.

When combined with:

• Side-to-side comparison

• Longitudinal tracking

• Task-specific demands

They strengthen interpretation, guide decisions, and improve how assessment results are communicated to clients.

Used well, the Anterior Hop Test becomes more than a task — it becomes a benchmark for capacity, progress, and informed decision-making.