Nike SPARQ

I participated in sparq testing at the area code games in the summer or 06. IMO the testing is not an indicator of what type of player a person is, but it does help identify physical attributes.

If you run slow and throw 97mph your sparq score is low.

If you run a 6.4 60yd dash, and throw 70mph your sparq score is high.

The test is good for individuals looking to improve personal results, but not a good indicator of grading out what type of player you are.

Thanks - that's good info. I'll let him decide if he wants to do it. It would be interesting to see if he has improved. But it sounds like the overall number is not that useful - unless you run a 6.4 *and* throw 97!

I have heard of it. I think the SPARQ testing is useful primarily as a motivational tool for the individual. The athlete can see how specific exercises translate to specific areas of improvement.

If they come up with SPARQ training and testing modified for middle-aged baseball moms I will be the first to sign up. I'd love to get a higher vertical leap. Would make finding things in the garage much easier.

not a valid indicator of anything for baseball IMO.

The SPARQ test is a single tool to help measure how athletic a baseball player may be at the present time. It has nothing to do with throwing, fielding or hitting. It does say alot about quickness, speed, agility and how explosive the athlete is on that given day. All individuals reach a point in their baseball career where they are not able to compete but most of the time the pure athlete (SPARQ TEST) will be able to go farther than someone not as athletic. IMO, the test is more for position players than pitchers.

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If they come up with SPARQ training and testing modified for middle-aged baseball moms I will be the first to sign up. I'd love to get a higher vertical leap. Would make finding things in the garage much easier.

Me too! But I think to get better you have to work out and stuff. The working out I can do - it's the eating and drinking I can't seem to stop!

Good point, cbg. He's a MIF and has been working with a trainer all summer on these kinds of drills. He's athletic but not naturally fast, but with better mechanics, lifting, and stretching, it's been amazing to see the improvement. Reading these posts, I think he'd be more interested in the individual test results, rather than the overall score.

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Originally posted by 2Bmom:

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If they come up with SPARQ training and testing modified for middle-aged baseball moms I will be the first to sign up. I'd love to get a higher vertical leap. Would make finding things in the garage much easier.

Me too! But I think to get better you have to work out and stuff. The working out I can do - it's the eating and drinking I can't seem to stop!

Good point, cbg. He's a MIF and has been working with a trainer all summer on these kinds of drills. He's athletic but not naturally fast, but with better mechanics, lifting, and stretching, it's been amazing to see the improvement. Reading these posts, I think he'd be more interested in the individual test results, rather than the overall score.

The overall score is a combination of the individual test results. Look at everything a work on the part that you didn't test well.

It does test arm strength to some degree as you have to throw the medicine ball. Basically it looks at your athletic ability and as said above the higher up the baseball ladder you get athleticism counts - esp. for position players.

I was curious, my son did very well on the SPARQ - 3rd out of about 200. He is a 3B primarily b/c of arm strength - his score was practically double that of the other 3Bmen at the camp and was up there with the highest score for shortstops at the camp, made me wonder if he was playing the wrong position???

SPARQ training is very good at finding out how much potential baseball players have for playing football. There are a few programs out there who want "athletes" who will pay some attention to the SPARQ scores but otherwise they don't add much if anything to the information typically gained at a showcase.

Given a 60yd time, velocity on a gun, and some time seeing a player on the field and at bat will tell you if a player is an athlete and far more importantly if he is a baseball player.

The other problem with the SPARQ tests is that players who practice the specific skills in the SPARQ tests can score better than more athletic individuals who haven't. So what good are the tests other than to get people to pay for the training?

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The other problem with the SPARQ tests is that players who practice the specific skills in the SPARQ tests can score better than more athletic individuals who haven't. So what good are the tests other than to get people to pay for the training?

Good point, CAdad. I got a call this morning from the trainer that worked with my son over the summer. I love the guy - he did a great job with my son and inspired him to develop his own workouts. But he wants me to invite all of my son's teammates on both his HS and travel teams. While this training day is free, and might even be fun, I am certain that they'll encourage all of the players and their parents to join the health club that's sponsoring it, and sign up for a "free" personal training session.

Im sorry but to me its just more gizmo S*&%! Can you hit? Can you throw? Can you field? Can you pitch? Can you run the bags? Can you play the game? Im not much on all this stuff. I have seen too many guys that were athletes that needed a heart protector and a helmet in the field. I only really care about one thing. Can you play the game?

SPARQ - IMO - is a great way to make some money for the folks that created the SPARQ thing.

As for one's abililty to play baseball - IMO - it means absolutely nothing.

One guy has the high SPARQ.

He strikes out three times - with men on 2nd and 3rd and no outs.

The other guy - the "Low" SPARQ guy - gets up and smacks the ball into the parking lot in left centerfield in the bottom of the ninth and the game on the line.

"Low Sparq" guy's team wins the game.

The next day - we get a report on SPARQ scores - but not the score of the actual game.

Just play the game - hit it really hard - catch it - run like a wild dog - and if you pitch - strike them all out.

You cant win a game with a high SPARQ score.

The highest sparq grades last year did not mean anything to scouting departments. That is the way it turned out! The highest score of all was not drafted. The lower score guys did much better in the draft. We work with sparq, but that's the way things went. We did not even consider sparq grades when ranking players. Just trying to be honest. Might cost us some money along the way, but the truth is the truth! It might mean much mnore when it comes to football. The Reggie Bush sparq clip is kind of amazing. But what was the sparq rating for Moustakas, Vitters, and all the other first round picks? Don't know why I'm saying this!

Nike SPARQ Testing started at East Coast Pro Showcase as one scout put it they gave us $5,000 to do the testing. Nobody thought the tests would have any value for baseball players

Sparq teating for baseball started a long time before this year's East Coast Pro.

Jerry:
Your honesty is really refreshing. Sparq ratings are not very well suited to measuring what is important about being good at baseball. Let's face it: baseball is a skill sport, and pure athleticism does not matter as much as in other sports.

Some of the individual sparq tests are interesting, and for some positions they would be nice things to know. But it isn't enough of a help to make it important.

Do we care about the pitcher or catcher's vertical leap? Heck, leaping ability is about the 17th thing anyone would ask for ANY position on the baseball field.

My guess is Sparq will be far less prevalent in a year or two. Jerry's statement is the reason.

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Sparq teating for baseball started a long time before this year's East Coast Pro.

I'm sorry guys...I just stepped into this discussion a moment ago...this Sparq teating that you refer to...where exactly is the teating on the Sparq? Could you please reference it on this diagram? I'll go sit down in the corner, facing the wall, and listen for my answer. Thank you.
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GW,
You don't miss much. Is there such a thing as a Sparq with a teats and nuts as illustrated?

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Originally posted by iheartbb:
GW,
You don't miss much. Is there such a thing as a Sparq with a teats and nuts as illustrated?

Oh yeah iheartbb...they're illustrated...they're in here somewhere...let me look...



I'm sorry...I'm having trouble finding them...it's so dark in here. If you run into Jerry out there could you please ask him if he might install a light out here in his doghouse? Even a little nightlight would do.

Take some tinder,make a pile, gather some sticks or old dog bones and apply to tinder. If you have some old grisle you have been saving use that too. Then if you still have that Sparq teating laying around...viola....let there be light.

iheartbb...is that you?

Apparently you have been watching my show. Funny you didn't already know about "how to survive life in the doghouse" Episode iv... First, make fire, second make apology to whoever put you there....obtain "get out of doghouse free" card...usually nice stuff like xxoo's

"Nice stuff?"

"Xx's and Oo's...right iheartbb?"

"Hmmm?"

"Will these work?"




"Hey Jer? Sorry 'bout that whole teat thing with the Sparq plug..don't know what I was thinking."

"What's that Jer?"

"Oh yeah...you're right...I wasn't thinking."

"Silly me. By the way...have you got a match?"

"What am I lookin' to burn?"

"Oh nothing really...just some rubbish...some silly rubbish."
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Someone really needs to teat Gotwood.

"Lemme outta' here! Someone open this can and let me out! Guys...this isn't funny...lemme out!"

Did you guys see that post by PG? That is just another reason I think they are the best , period.

All teating aside...you are correct Coach!

Yes, as stated it's simply combine testing that creates "weight room hereos".

While certainly a test of raw athleticism, it does not guarantee that can be carried over to the field.