Power Testing: Med Ball Throw

The Med Ball Throw test is a physical fitness test that measures upper body power and explosiveness. It involves throwing a medicine ball as far as possible from a standing position.

The test can be performed in a variety of ways, but the most common method involves the following steps:

1. Instruct the client to adopt a seated position, with their back up against a wall or stable chair and their legs straight out. 
2. Once set, hand the client a medicine ball, and once set, queue the client to perform a chest pass, throwing the ball as far as they can. 
3. Measure the distance of the client’s throw, from the point of where the medicine ball started to the point of where it lands.
4. Allow the client to attempt this test 2-3 more times and record their best result.

The Med Ball Throw test is often used in sports and fitness training to assess upper body power and explosiveness, as well as to track progress over time. It can be used in a variety of populations, including athletes, military personnel, and general fitness enthusiasts. It is important to ensure proper technique and safety when performing the test, and to use appropriate equipment and surfaces.

Normative data is available for the Med Ball Throw test, although it can vary depending on factors such as age, sex, and level of fitness. Here are some examples of normative data:

• In a study by Chelly et al. (2010), normative data for the Med Ball Throw test was established for a group of young adult men and women. The mean distances for men and women were 7.71 meters and 5.54 meters, respectively.
• Another study by Ebben et al. (2007) measured the Med Ball Throw performance of American football players from a Division III college. They reported a mean distance of 7.78 meters for the players.
• In a study by Hori et al. (2018), normative data was established for a group of Japanese high school track and field athletes. The mean distance for the boys was 9.09 meters, and for the girls it was 6.89 meters.

It's important to note that normative data may vary depending on the population being tested and the testing protocol used. Additionally, factors such as body size, technique, and familiarity with the test can affect performance. Therefore, it's important to use normative data as a general reference and to interpret test results in the context of the individual being tested.

References:

1. Chelly, M. S., Fathloun, M., Cherif, N., Ben Amar, M., Tabka, Z., & Van Praagh, E. (2010). Effects of a back squat training program on leg power, jump, and sprint performances in junior soccer players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(10), 2665-2672.
2. Ebben, W. P., Petushek, E. J., & Using, J. (2007). Lower body power and its relationship with body drag sprinting speed in Division III American football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1146-1149.
3. Hori, N., Newton, R. U., Kawamori, N., McGuigan, M. R., Kraemer, W. J., & Nosaka, K. (2018). Reliability and validity of the repeated change-of-direction ability test in Japanese high school track and field athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(6), 1731-1737.
4. Jidovtseff, B., Harris, N. K., Crielaard, J. M., & Cronin, J. B. (2011). Using the reactive strength index modified to evaluate plyometric performance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 25(9), 2383-2391.