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Max Touch (or Max Vert)

The Max Touch Vertical Leap Test is a basketball specific test that measures the overall skills of explosive leg power and coordinated jumping mechanics with the player's natural height and wingspan, all key elements in the game of basketball. This test is a variation of the standing vertical jump, though more similar to the running vertical jump with two-legged take-off or one leg take-off.

test purpose: to measure maximum jump reach height above the ground

equipment required: Vertec® or similar, several marker cones.

pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender and test conditions. Check and calibrate the equipment if required. Perform a standard warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.

test setup: the arms of the Vertec® jump measuring device is adjusted to be a set distance off the floor, to eliminate the need for measuring standing reach. Markers are placed 15 feet away from the base of the Vertec®, enabling approaches from several different angles.

procedure: The athlete stands 15 feet away from a Vertec® or similar apparatus. The athlete is given a significant amount of freedom in choosing how to jump: with one or two feet and any number of steps before the jump. As the athlete approaches the Vertec, they jump and touch the Vertec® fingers that record the height of the jump. Record the ‘touch’ height above the court floor.

scoring: The max jump height is recorded as a distance from the ground, to the nearest 1 cm or 1/2 inch.

some results: US Decathlete Bryan Clay achieved 11 feet 1 inches (3.38 m) for this test during a SPARQ testing exercise in 2005 (published in SPARQ Magazine, Summer 2008). See also the NBA Combine Max Vert test results.

target population: Basketball, Volleyball, AFL