COACH'S 40-MINUTE ATHLETE ASSESMENT (E-BOOK)

Assess Faster. Program Smarter.

A good assessment should change the program. If it does not help you choose exercises, set volume, plan rest periods, or coach the athlete more effectively, it is only taking up time.

The Coach’s 40-Minute Athlete Assessment provides strength coaches and personal trainers with a clear system to use during the first session. In about 30 to 40 minutes, you will gather enough useful information to form a starting plan without making the athlete feel like a laboratory subject.

Four Areas That Shape the Program

1. Body Proportions

Measure the athlete’s height, leg segments, wingspan, humerus, and forearm. These measurements help identify natural advantages in pressing, pulling, squatting, and hinging. They also point toward muscles, movement patterns, and stability demands that may need more work.

2. Vertical Jump

Five jumps can reveal how quickly an athlete produces force, how well they use the stretch reflex, and how they absorb force when landing. These observations help guide rep ranges, training volume, rest periods, eccentric work, and isometric training.

Alternatives are provided for athletes who should not or do not want to jump.

3. Movement Screen

Use four simple screens to see which positions the athlete can control:

• Goblet squat
• Romanian deadlift
• 90/90 pullover
• Dead bug

These movements help you choose the right squat, hinge, press, and pull variations. They also show when a movement should be shortened, supported, or saved for later.

4. Coaching Psychology

Not every athlete responds to the same program or coaching style. Some need competition. Some need variety and feedback. Others need a clear plan with fewer surprises.

This guide provides a simple framework for identifying these tendencies and using them to improve communication, exercise selection, and consistency.

Turn the Assessment Into a Training Plan

The assessment is only finished when it changes the first training block. You will learn how to connect each finding to four key decisions:

• Which movement variations can the athlete perform
• Where weekly training volume should go
• Which rep ranges and rest periods may work best
• How the program should be presented and coached

Three case examples show how the system can be applied to a long-limbed puller, a short-limbed presser, and an anxious beginner.

Worksheets You Can Use With Clients

The ebook includes printable field worksheets for recording:

• Client goals and training history
• Injury and pain history
• Body measurements
• Lower- and upper-body biases
• Vertical-jump observations
• Movement-screen results
• Coaching and motivational tendencies
• First-block exercise choices
• Rep and rest strategies
• Reassessment plans

Quick-reference charts place the key findings and programming responses in one location for use during future assessments.

Book Specifications

• Author: Tom Sheppard
• Format: Digital PDF ebook
• Length: 33 pages
• Publication year: 2026
• Assessment time: Approximately 30 to 40 minutes
• Assessment areas: Body proportions, vertical jump, movement screening, and coaching psychology
• Movement screens: Goblet squat, Romanian deadlift, 90/90 pullover, and dead bug
• Includes: Case examples, field worksheets, programming tables, coaching questions, and quick-reference pages
• Equipment needed: Tape measure, light dumbbell or kettlebell, and basic training space
• Optional equipment: Phone or camera for reviewing jumps

Is This a Medical Assessment?

No. This is a coaching tool, not a medical screening or diagnosis. Tests should stop if the athlete experiences pain, dizziness, or unusual discomfort. Concerns outside a coach’s scope should be referred to the proper healthcare professional.

Coach: What Is in Front of You

This system does not place permanent labels on athletes. It gives you a starting hypothesis that can be tested and refined through training.

Use what you learn to make better decisions, earn the athlete’s trust, and build the first training block with a clear purpose. Bring more Focus, Trust, and Strength to every assessment.

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