Single leg balance

With this test, the coach is trying to evaluate the ability to stabilise on each leg independently in a static upright posture. This requires muscular stability and hip and ankle mobility. To perform the single leg balance, have the child stand with feet together, toes pointing forward and arms extended down by (but not touching) the sides. Next, ask the child to lift the right leg up until the hip and knee are both at 90 degrees. As the child lifts the knee they move their arms away from the body up to shoulder height and hold them in that position. Have the child maintain good posture and balance for at least 10 seconds. Repeat on the other leg. We are looking for a loss in posture or loss in height when the child moves from a two-leg stance to a one leg stance. A good verbal cue is to tell the child to stand tall before starting. The test is over when the child loses balance or posture or has to move the original foot position or falls over. The video below shows the setup and performance of the single leg balance.

To score the single leg balance the coach gives the child one point for each of the following - repeat and score both sides:

1. Standing for 10 seconds
2. Keeping the pelvis stable
3. Keeping the knee at 90 degrees
4. No loss of height.