Hexagonal obstacle test

The main objective of this test is to measure the subject’s ability to move quickly, jumping over a series of obstacles while maintaining balance. This agility test demands high levels of control, strength, power, proprioception and coordination.

• Required material: A flat non-slip surface, 6 hurdles and marks to delimit the course of the circuit, a tape measure and a stopwatch. As seen in the figure, hurdles must be of different heights: 25, 32 and 35 centimeters (cm), one of each; and 3 of 20 cm.

• Procedure: To carry out this test, a hexagon of 66 cm on each side must be drawn, and then place the hurdles of different heights as shown in the illustration. In this test the participant must perform a series of back and forth jumps with both feet over the hexagon hurdles. To start the test, the subject should stand in the centre of the hexagon, facing line A, position he/she must maintain throughout the test. On the evaluator’s signal, the subject will start jumping over hurdle B and returning to the centre (2 jumps), then he/she will do the same over hurdles C, D, E, F and A. When the subject jumps over line A and returns to the middle a round is completed (B,C,D,E,F,A), so that one round sums a total of 12 jumps (6×2). The subject must complete 3 rounds (36 jumps) and the test will finish when the subject jumps from line A to the centre after completing the third round. There the stopwatch will be stopped and the elapsed time will be registered.

• Assessment: It is measured in seconds (sec) and the subject has a maximum of 3 attempts. In Fisicalcoach, the lowest time, as well as the mean and the median can be recorded.

• Remarks: There is a variant of this test in which cones are used instead of hurdles (all cones of the same height). There is also a hexagonal test without hurdles in which the subject only has to jump over the lines drawn on the ground. Originally, this test was created to evaluate alpine skiers, but nowadays it is widely used to test athletes of different disciplines.