Test Descriptions for Children

Body Mass Index

What does it measure: Body Composition refers primarily to the distribution of muscle and fat in the
body. Body size such as height, lengths and girths are also grouped under this component.

The test performed is Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated from body Weight (W) and
height(H). BMI = W / (H x H), where W = body weight in kilograms and H = height in meters. The
higher the score usually indicating higher levels of body fat.

Measuring Height Accurately Infrastructure/Equipment

Required:
Remove the participant’s shoes, bulky clothing, and hair
ornaments, and unbraid hair that interferes with the measurement. Flat, Clean surface, Weighing
Machine, Stadiometer/Measuring
Take the height measurement on flooring that is not carpeted and Tape pasted on a wall
against a flat surface such as a wall with no molding.
Scoring:
Have the participant stand with feet flat, together, and back against
the wall. Make sure legs are straight, arms are at sides, and Height recorded in cm and mm.
shoulders are level.
Weight will be recorded in
Make sure the participant is looking straight ahead and that the kilogram (kg) and grams (gms).
line of sight is parallel with the floor.
Record the weight to the nearest
Take the measurement while the participant stands with head, decimal fraction (for example,
shoulders, buttocks, and heels touching the flat surface (wall). (See 25.1 kilograms).
illustration.) Depending on the overall body shape of the
participant, all points may not touch the wall. Accurately record the height to the
nearest 0.1 centimeter.
Use a flat headpiece to form a right angle with the wall and lower
the headpiece until it firmly touches the crown of the head.

Make sure the measurer's eyes are at the same level as the
headpiece.

Lightly mark where the bottom of the headpiece meets the wall.
Then, use a metal tape to measure from the base on the floor to the
marked measurement on the wall to get the height measurement.

Accurately record the height to the nearest 0.1 centimeter.

Measuring Weight Accurately

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 4

Plate Tapping Test
What does it measure:
Tests speed and coordination of limb movement

How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:

Table (adjustable height), 2 yellow discs (20cm
If possible, the table height should be adjusted so diameter), rectangle (30 x 20 cm), stopwatch
that the subject is standing comfortably in front of
the discs. The two yellow discs are placed with
their centers 60 cm apart on the table. The Scoring:
rectangle is placed equidistant between both discs. The time taken to complete 25 cycles is recorded

The non-preferred hand is placed on the rectangle.

The subject moves the preferred hand back and
forth between the discs over the hand in the middle
as quickly as possible.

This action is repeated for 25 full cycles (50 taps).

Administrative Suggestion:
Participants should be encouraged to stand in a balanced posture, feet apart to shoulder width. Results
are usually better if the participant can maintain constant pace during most of the run.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 6

Flamingo Balance Test

What does it measure:

Ability to balance successfully on a single leg. This single leg balance test assesses the strength of the
leg, pelvic, and trunk muscle as well as Static balance.

How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:

Stand on the beam. Keep balance by holding the Non Slippery even surface, Stopwatch, can be done
instructor's hand (if required to start). on just standing on beam.
Scoring:
While balancing on the preferred leg, the free leg
The total number of falls or loss of balance in 60
is flexed at the knee and the foot of this leg held
seconds of balancing is recorded.
close to the buttocks.
If there are more than 15 falls in the first 30
Start the watch as the instructor lets go of the seconds, the test is terminated.
participant/subject.

Pause the stopwatch each time the subject loses

balance (either by falling off the beam or letting
goes of the foot being held).

Resume over, again timing until they lose balance.

Count the number of falls in 60 seconds of
balancing.

If there are more than 15 falls in the first 30

seconds, the test is terminated.

Administrative Suggestion:
Participants should be encouraged to eyes focused on stationary object straight ahead.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 7

Partial Curl Up (30 seconds)

What does it measure:

The curl up test measures abdominal muscular strength and endurance of the abdominals and hip-
Flexors, important in back support and core stability.

How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:

Flat clean cushioned surface with two parallel
The subject lies on a cushioned, flat, clean surface strips (6 inches apart), Stopwatch, Recording
with knees flexed, usually at 90 degrees, with sheets, Pen
hands straight on the sides (palms facing
downwards) closer to the ground, parallel to the Scoring:
body. Record the maximum number of Curl ups in a
certain time period 30 seconds.
The subject raises the trunk in a smooth motion,
keeping the arms in position, curling up the desired
amount (at least 6 inches above/along the ground
towards the parallel strip).

The trunk is lowered back to the floor so that the

shoulder blades or upper back touch the floor.

Administrative Suggestion:
Participants should be encouraged to keep normal breathing rate. Results are usually better if the
participant can maintain constant pace during the activity.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 8

Push Ups (Boys)/Modified Push Ups (Girls)
What does it measure:
Upper body strength endurance, and trunk stability.

How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:

A standard push up begins with the hands and toes Flat clean cushioned surface/Gym mat
touching the floor, the body and legs in a straight
line, feet slightly apart, the arms at shoulder width
apart, extended and at a right angles to the body.

Keeping the back and knees straight, the subject Scoring:

lowers the body to a predetermined point, to touch Record the number of correctly completed push-
some other object, or until there is a 90-degree ups.
angle at the elbows, then returns back to the starting
position with the arms extended.

This action is repeated, and test continues until

exhaustion, or until they can do no more in rhythm
or have reached the target number of push-ups.

For Girls: push-up technique is with the knees

resting on the ground.

Administrative Suggestion:
Participants should be encouraged to emphasis to keep the back straight. Results are usually better if the
participant can maintain constant pace during the activity.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 9

Sit and Reach
What does it measure:
Common measure of flexibility, and specifically measures the flexibility of the lower back and
hamstring muscles. This test is important as because tightness in this area is implicated in lumbar
lordosis, forward pelvic tilt and lower back pain
How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:
This test involves sitting on the floor with legs Sit and Reach box with the following dimensions:
stretched out straight ahead. Shoes should be 12" x 12" (sides) 12" x 10" (front and back) 12" x
removed. The soles of the feet are placed flat 21" (top) Inscribe the top panel with centimeter/mm
against the Sit and Reach box. Both knees should gradations. It is crucial that the vertical plane
be locked and pressed flat to the floor - the tester against which the subject's feet will be placed is
may assist by holding them down. exactly at the 23 cm mark. Flat clean cushioned
surface/Gym Mats
With the palms facing downwards, and the hands
on top of each other, the subject reaches forward Scoring:
along the measuring line as far as possible. The score is recorded (difference between initial
position and final position), in cm and mm, as the
Ensure that the hands remain at the same level, distance reached by the hand.
not one reaching further forward than the other.
After some practice reaches, the subject reaches
out and holds that position for at one-two
seconds while the distance is recorded. Make
sure there are no jerky movements.

Administrative Suggestion:
Proper warm-up and static stretching of the lower back and posterior thighs is very important for this
test. A partner placing his/her hands lightly across knees can prevent the flexing of knees. Keep the
hands over each other (fish pose). Besides in order to prevent the test apparatus from sliding away from
the participants during the test, it should be placed against a wall or a similar immovable object.

The test trial is repeated if:

(i) The hands reach out unevenly or (ii) The knees are flexed at the time of doing the test.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 10

600 Mtr Run/Walk
What does it measure:
Cardiovascular Fitness/Cardiovascular Endurance

How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:

Participants are instructed to run 600 mts. in the Stopwatch, whistle, marker cone, lime powder,
fastest possible pace. measuring tape, 200 or 400 mts with 1.22 mt
(minimum 1 mt) width preferably on a flat and even
The participants begin on signal, “ready, start” as playground with a marking of starting and finish
they cross the finish line elapsed time should be line.
announced to the participants. Scoring:
Time taken for completion (Run or Walk) in min,
Walking is permitted but the objective is to cover sec, mm
the distance in the shortest possible time.

Administrative Suggestion:
Participants should be encouraged to practice running with emphasis placed on the concept of pace.
Results are usually better if the participant can maintain constant pace during most of the run and
perhaps using a strong closing effort.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 11

50 Mtr Dash (Standing Start)

What does it measure:

Determines acceleration and speed

How to Perform: Infrastructure/Equipment Required:

A thorough warm up should be given, including Measuring tape or marked track, stopwatch, cone
some practice starts and accelerations. markers, flat and clear surface of at least 60 meters.

Start from a stationary position, with one foot in Scoring:

front of the other. The front foot must be on or Time taken for completion
behind the starting line. This starting position
should be static (dead start).

The tester should provide hints for maximizing

speed (such as keeping low, driving hard with the
arms and legs) and encouraged to continue running
hard through the finish line.

Administrative Suggestion:
Participants should be encouraged to practice running with emphasis placed on the concept of pace.
Results are usually better if the participant can maintain constant pace during most of the run and perhaps
using a strong closing effort.

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 12

Medical:

No participant with known medical problems, are allowed to take part in the test.
Test Resource Required
Body Composition (BMI) 1 test administrator, 1 recorder
Coordination (Plate Tapping Test) 1 test administrator, 1 recorder
Balance (Flamingo Balance Test) 1 test administrator, 1 recorder
Flexibility (Sit and Reach Test) 1 test administrator, 1 recorder
Strength - Core (Partial Curl-up) 1 test administrator, 1 recorder
Muscular Endurance (Push Ups for Boys, 1 test administrator, 1 recorder
Modified Push Ups for Girls)
Cardiovascular Endurance (600 Mtr Run/Walk) 1 person at start, 1 person for each lane at finish
Speed (50 Mtr. Dash) 1 person at start, 1 person for each lane at finish

Additional Volunteers: 1 per 20 participants, if you are doing for a larger group.

List of Equipment
Test Equipment

Height Measuring Tape, Weight Machine, even and non-

Body Composition (BMI) slippery hard surface

Strength Abdominal (Partial Stopwatch, Gym/Yoga mat, Marking Tape (for 6 inches
Curl-up) parallel strips)

Muscular Endurance (Push Ups for Boys, Gym/Yoga Mat

Modified Push Ups for Girls)
Flexibility (Sit and Reach Test) Sit and Reach Box (dimensions: 12" x 12" (sides) 12" x 10"
(front and back) 12" x 21" (top) Inscribe the top panel with
centimeter/mm gradations), Gym/Yoga mat

Cardiovascular Endurance(600 Mtr 200 or 400 mts with 1.22 mt (minimum 1 mt) width track
Run/Walk) marking of starting and finish line. Stopwatch (1 per lane)

Speed (50 Mtr. Dash) Stopwatch (1 per lane), cone markers, Marked track of at
least 60 meters with 1.22 mt (minimum 1 mt) lane with
starting and finish line.

Coordination (Plate Tapping) Table (adjustable height), 2 yellow discs(20cm

diameter), rectangle (30 x 20 cm), stopwatch

Balance (Flamingo Balance Test) Stopwatch, Beam locally procured of a standard brick shape
and height

Sports Authority of India | Khelo India Fitness Assessment v 2.0 | Page 14