This article describes The Hockey Ladder for Umpires, a fitness measure designed by Cris Maloney specifically for evaluating a hockey umpire's speed and mobility.
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The subject faces in the same direction through all but the final rung of the ladder.
This is a narrative description of the measure using standard hockey markings.
Subject stands with both heels on the 25-yard/23-meter line. Time starts when either heel breaks contact with the line. Subject moves to and touches the stroke mark with either foot. Subject must move backwards and touch the top of the circle with either foot. Subject moves forward and touches the goal line with either foot, turns and moves to and crosses the 25-yard/23-meter line. Record time when subject's torso crosses the Start|Finish line.
This is a narrative description of the measure using distance measurements.
Subject stands with both heels on the Start|Finsih line. Time starts when either heel breaks contact with the line. Subject moves forward and touches the ground with either foot at Point B, which is 18-yards/16.5-meters away from the Start|Finish line. Subject must move backwards from Point B and touch the ground with either foot at Point A, which is 9-yards/8.2-meters away from the Start|Finish line. Subject moves forward and touches the ground with either foot at Point C, which is 25-yards/23-meters from the Start|Finish line. Subject turns around and moves to and crosses the Start|Finish line. Record time when subject's torso crosses the Start|Finish line.
The umpire who completes the course (a total distance of just 68 yards/62 meters) in the least amount of time has the best mobility score in the test group. An endurance component can be added by having the umpires repeat the course three times in a row (204 yards/186.5 meters).
