SPARQ Testing for Baseball
Do you have what it takes to be a baseball player? The SPARQ was a rating system designed to measure sport-specific athleticism. The results from these tests were combined and weighted using a formula specific to baseball. This SPARQ baseball protocol is same as for Fastpitch/Softball, except for softball the 20 yard dash is used instead of the 30 yards.
Note: Despite being a very popular assessment method for some time, the SPARQ business is no longer active and is not available to conduct testing and rate players.
baseball is physically demanding The following tests make up the assessments in the Baseball and Fastpitch SPARQ.
- 30 Yard Dash — a straight line sprint test that measures acceleration, and is a reliable indicator of speed, agility and quickness. (Fastpitch uses 20 yards)
- Vertical Jump — jumping for maximum height, this test measures explosiveness, and is a reliable indicator of speed. The preferred method is using a digital jump mat though other methods can be used if required.
- Rotational Power Ball Throw — The test involves throwing a Power Ball across the chest for maximum distance. It measures core strength and total body power and simulates the rotational core movement common to baseball.
- 20 Yard Shuttle — A lateral movement test that measures the agility of the athlete, especially body control and change of direction.
Results
- The highest recorded SPARQ Baseball Rating is 102.31 by Jacoby Ellsbury, a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, in a test conducted in 2008.
- 30 yard dash: 3.56 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 38.5 inches (97.8 cm)
- Power Ball Throw: 65 ft (19.8 m)
- 20 Yard Shuttle (5-10-5):
Related Pages
- About the SPARQ Rating System
- About the MLB Combine
- Baseball Fitness Testing and fitness components
- Who Is The Fittest Baseball Player Ever?
- The same tests are part of the SPARQ testing for Softball/Fastpitch
- Fitness Testing for Sports.
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
