Laboratory-based tests for swimmers: methodology, reliability, considerations and relationship with front-crawl performance

Monitoring training process in swimming is essential for providing valuable information for both coaches and athletes. Among a large variety of laboratory-based tests used for the quantification of swimmers abilities and evaluation of fitness status, the most representative and easy to apply ones are chosen to be presented in this review. Furthermore, these tests reliability, methodology, referred considerations and relationship with front-crawl swimming performance are reported. Based on the previous mentioned criteria, the assessment of aerobic, anaerobic power and muscular strength, are analyzed. From the data examined, it is concluded that despite their reliability and efficacy in determining adaptations after a training period, as well as, detecting differences between athletes' training status, laboratory-based tests assessing aerobic, anaerobic power and muscular strength for swimmers does not meet the criterion of specificity and disregard the crucial role of technique.