2007 SPARQ TESTING RESULTS: Excel

2008 SPARQ TESTING RESULTS: Excel

2009 SPARQ TESTING RESULTS:  Excel

The 4th Annual Braves Baseball Strong Man Competition/SPARQ Testing will be held on Saturday, February 21st - Saturday, February 28th - Saturday, March 7 and Saturday, March 14th beginning at approximately 8:30am. Players will compete as a member on one of five different teams. These teams will basically be the same as our Hitting League teams, with a few exceptions.

SPARQ Testing for baseball was introduced in 2004. SPARQ Testing has introduced the five tools of athleticism (which make up the acronym): Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness. We all know the five tools of baseball - throwing, hitting, fielding, running, and power. For baseball players and coaches, this rating system will become a more efficient tool to judge the overall athleticism of baseball players.

Test #1: 30 Yard Dash

The 30 yard dash has been chosen to test linear speed. The 60 yard dash has long been the standard measurement of speed in baseball, but we have never seen a player sprint 60 yards in a straight line on the baseball field. The 30 yard dash equals 90 feet on the base paths, or from home to first base.
- each player will start the 30 yard dash from a lead-off position
- each player will run two timed 30 yard sprints
- each player's fastest time will be added to the team's overall time

Test #2: 3 Kg. Medicine Ball Toss

The medicine ball throw, which requires the same motion as swinging a bat, measures the core strength through the hitting zone.
- each player will toss a 3 Kg. medicine ball from a batting position
- each player will toss the medicine ball twice
- each player's farthest measured toss will be added to the team's overall distance

Test #3: 20 Yard Shuttle Run

The shuttle run measures lateral mobility and agility as well as body control during changes of direction.
- each player will start the shuttle run from a three point stance
- each player will run two timed shuttle runs
- each player's fastest time will be added to the team's overall time

Test #4: Vertical Jump

The vertical jump measures elastic strength and leg explosiveness.
- each player will use a no step technique
- each player will jump twice
- each player's highest jump will be added to the team's overall jumps

SPARQ Scoring

SPARQ Scoring combines the results of the four tests into one number. 100 is a very good score, but exceptional athletes can exceed 100. For example, Reggie Bush scored 95.10. Matt Leinhart scored 75.18. By contrast, Michael Vick scored 103.89. To gain a better understanding of the importance of the SPARQ test, visit www.sparqtraining.com.

Scoring

The winning team of each event will receive five points, the second place team will receive four points, the third place team will receive three points, the fourth place team will receive two points, and the last place team will receive one point.