Hoff Dribbling Track
This is a test called the Hoff Test. It is a test designed to assess aerobic performance in soccer by means of a specific dribbling track. Before reading this download the hoff drill so you can view it as you go.
One of the main purposes of this test is to find out what the VO2 max is of soccer players. Through scientific studies we know that this test correlates well with the VO2max that would be found in the laboratory.
The ball is dribbled in the direction of the arrows, with backward running between points A and B. Subjects were instructed to gradually increase intensity to a level that brought them to VO2MAX within six minutes.
In this test the player has to conduct the ball in a forward run through the track. The track width is of 35 m, length is 55 m on the right and only 51.5 m on the other side. The distance from cone 7 to the gate 8 is performed with backward dribbling. There are three hurdles (30–35 cm height), 22 cones (two cones for the backward run gate and two for the starting line). Total distance per lap: 290 m; hurdle 3 to cone 1: 30.5 m; distance separating cones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7: 25.5 m each.
It is performed on a track that was proposed for the first time by Hoff et al for training purposes. The Hoff track distances ( have been modified to reach a total distance of exactly 290 m per tour. As proposed by Hoff et al, the player moved a soccer ball through the track by dribbling. The purpose of the test was to cover the maximum distance during a 10 minute period. Each player was informed of the elapsed time at 5 minutes (halfway through the test), and at 9 minutes (when only 1 minute of the test remained). Five subjects were tested at a time. The test starting signal was given for one subject every minute. Thus, the assessor timing the test had 4 minutes for starting the five subjects and then switched to the halfway test signal that occurred in the successive minute for the first player. Then, when the assessor announced the halfway test signal for the fifth player (minute 9), he simultaneously began the last minute signal for the first player. In order to be easily identified, the players wore colored T shirts that were always assigned in the same order to the players numbered 1 to 5. Four days before the first Hoff test, the subjects performed a pre-test in order to get used to the testing pace so as to obtain maximum performance during the experiment.Conversion table from meters covered during 8 minutes run with the ball to
maximal oxygen consumption. The standard error of the maximal oxygen
uptake estimation is 2.5 mL•kg-1•min-1.
For printable version of the Hoff Test click here.
For more information about this test please go to BJSM.
