When your child sprints down the turf, launches into a jump, or moves through an agility drill, you’re seeing more than a workout — you’re witnessing measurable athletic progress in action.
At Parisi Speed School, our Performance Evaluations are not about testing for the sake of testing. They’re about measuring growth, identifying areas for improvement, and showing athletes (and parents) how consistent training translates into real results: faster acceleration, more powerful movement, better coordination, and greater confidence.
We’ll break down what our Performance Evaluations measure, what the numbers actually mean, and how they guide your athlete’s development over time.
Why We Do Performance Evaluations
Think of a Performance Evaluation as your athlete’s report card for athletic development — but instead of grades, we measure key indicators of speed, strength, agility, power, and endurance.
Every athlete begins their Parisi journey with an Initial Performance Evaluation, giving our coaches a clear baseline of where they stand physically and mechanically. From there, we retest during our sessions to track progress and fine-tune training plans.
Here’s what makes Performance Evaluations so valuable:
- They show athletes their hard work is paying off.
- They help our coaches individualize training for each athlete’s needs.
- They keep parents and athletes informed, motivated, and goal-oriented.
This isn’t about comparing athletes to one another — it’s about comparing each athlete to their previous self and celebrating steady, sustainable improvement.
The 10-Yard and 20-Yard Sprint Tests
Speed is the most visible and exciting quality in sports, but what we’re really measuring is how efficiently an athlete produces and applies force.
- The 10-yard sprint measures acceleration — how quickly an athlete can explode from a standstill. This skill is critical for first-step quickness in almost every sport.
- The 20-yard sprint shows both acceleration and early top-speed development — how well the athlete maintains proper form as velocity increases.
When your athlete’s sprint times improve, it means their mechanics, posture, and power output have improved too.
That improvement usually comes from:
- Generating more force through the ground
- Stronger hips, glutes, and hamstrings
- Better arm drive and rhythm
- A more efficient body position at takeoff
In other words, faster times aren’t about running harder — they’re about running better.
The Vertical Jump
The vertical jump is one of the best indicators of lower-body power — how explosively an athlete can move their body upward. It’s a universal measure of athletic potential across sports.
When your athlete’s vertical jump improves, it’s a clear sign that:
- Their legs and core have become stronger.
- Their movement mechanics are more efficient.
- Their nervous system has adapted to activate muscle fibers faster and more powerfully.
Vertical jump gains often carry over into acceleration, sprinting, and agility. A more explosive athlete is not just jumping higher — they’re moving more efficiently in every direction.
The Broad Jump
While the vertical jump measures upward power, the broad jump measures horizontal power — the ability to push forcefully into the ground and move forward explosively.
In most sports, that’s the kind of power that determines who gets to the ball first, who wins a sprint battle, or who can drive through contact.
Improvements in the broad jump typically indicate:
- Stronger and more explosive glutes, hamstrings, and calves (the “posterior chain”)
- Better hip extension and landing control
- More overall coordination and balance
Broad jump performance gives us a window into how well your athlete translates strength into forward movement — something every sport demands.
The 5-10-5 (Pro Agility) Drill
The 5-10-5, also called the Pro Agility Drill, measures how quickly and efficiently an athlete can change direction — accelerate, decelerate, and reaccelerate in both directions.
This is where true game speed shows up. In sports, athletes rarely move in a straight line. The ability to stop, control momentum, and explode back into motion separates good athletes from great ones.
When we see improvement in the 5-10-5, it often means:
- The athlete has better body control and balance
- They’ve developed stronger stabilizers in the hips and core
- Their eccentric strength (the ability to absorb and redirect force) has improved
- They’re moving more safely and efficiently — which helps reduce injury risk
What Parents Should Focus On
It’s easy to focus solely on the numbers, but what truly matters is the combination of movement quality and measurable progress.
A slightly faster time achieved with better mechanics is far more meaningful than a huge jump achieved through poor form. Our coaches look at both — the data and the movement behind the data.
Parents often notice other benefits that go beyond the stopwatch:
- Improved posture, coordination, and body awareness
- Greater self-confidence and motivation
- A more positive attitude toward training, nutrition, and recovery
Performance Evaluations help athletes see their progress — which keeps them motivated and engaged long-term.
Beyond Sports: Building Life Skills
Even if your child isn’t chasing a scholarship or a championship, the process of setting goals, working hard, and seeing measurable improvement teaches lessons that reach far beyond athletics.
Performance Evaluations reinforce discipline, consistency, and resilience — traits that serve young athletes well in school, relationships, and future careers.
Every improved metric is more than just a number; it’s proof that effort, consistency, and coaching lead to results!
Final Thoughts
At Parisi Speed School, Performance Evaluations aren’t about competition — they’re about clarity and confidence.
They give our coaches the data to build better programs, our athletes the motivation to keep improving, and our parents the reassurance that training is making a measurable difference.
When your athlete sees their progress in black and white — a faster sprint, a higher jump, a sharper turn — it fuels pride, accountability, and excitement for what’s next.
Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to perform better — it’s to become better!
As always, if you have questions about how your athlete can improve their athletic performance, please contact us here!
