Lead by the XFL’s Director of Player Performance Sean Hayes, the combine will feature advanced and innovative styles of testing and training. (XFL YouTube)
The XFL will air a live stream of the XFL Combine on Wednesday, July 26 and Thursday, July 27 from 9 am-12 pm CT. Fans can also follow @XFL2023 on social media for live updates throughout the event.
Hayes has more than 10 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. A former All-Ivy League linebacker at Harvard, Hayes joined the XFL following six years with the WWE and two years in the NFL with the Houston Texans. He says the XFL’s support for bringing innovative ideas to the testing program has been unmatched compared to his previous roles.
Hayes is spearheading the unique testing program that will be in place at the Combine, as the league has formed partnerships with three companies that are at the forefront of sports performance — Catapult Sports, VALD Performance and Vitruve. Testing tools from each of these entities will be on full display at the XFL Combine.
Coaches will be provided with metrics that may assist their evaluation of players. In turn, players will be provided with additional feedback to better understand the areas where they need to improve.
The tests that will be used at the combine are described below.
VALD FORCE PLATE METRICS (JUMPS)
Each athlete will step onto a pair of Vald Force Plates with their hands placed on their hips. After a quick bodyweight measurement, they will perform three jumps on the plates. Keeping their hands on their hips the entire time, the goal is to jump as high and quickly as possible before landing back onto the plates in an athletic position and regrouping before the next jump. The force plate testing will provide the following measurements:
Jump Height (inches): Players will perform these jumps with their hands on their hips (no arm swing action). This will be a measurement of lower body explosive power displayed in a vertical vector. There is no way to “cheat” this test, which makes for an even playing field across all athletes.
Relative Power (Watts/kg): This measurement shows each athlete’s peak power relative to their bodyweight, otherwise known as “pound-for-pound” power. This allows for quick and easy comparisons between players of different sizes and positions.
Reactive Strength Index or RSI (m/s): This figure measures how reactive or “twitchy” an athlete is. It shows how quickly they can generate force into the ground by taking the amount of time the athlete is in the air and dividing it by the amount of time it took them to take off. The higher the number, the “twitchier” they are. This is extremely important for skill position players, as they need to be able to call upon that force quickly in game situations.
Concentric Impulse (Newtons): This measurement determines how much force an athlete can accumulate from the start of their jump phase to the moment right before they leave the ground. The amount of force generated can be a good indicator of how strong an athlete is. This is extremely important for lineman and other players inside the box, as they are called upon to move their opponents off the ball on every play.
VITRUVE BAR SPEED METRICS (BENCH PRESS)
At each bench press station, the barbell will be outfitted with Vitruve Bar Speed units. The amount of weight will be broken into three categories based on each player’s position, in an attempt to be in the ballpark of 60-70 percent of the player’s one-rep max. Research suggests that this percentage will allow for an athlete to reach peak power.
Each athlete will perform three reps of their designated weight. The Vitruve units will provide valuable measurements in terms of upper body power and strength:
Max Strength (lb): This is an estimation of the maximum weight an athlete can bench press one time. This is calculated by plugging the weight lifted and the speed it was lifted at into an equation generated by scientific research.
Peak Power (Watts): This figure shows how explosive an athlete’s upper body is by considering not only how much force they can produce, but how quickly they can generate it.
Relative Strength (lb / kg): This number is generated by dividing an athlete’s estimated one-rep max by their body weight. This tells evaluators how strong an athlete is relative to their body size, also known as “pound-for-pound” strength.
Relative Power (Watts / kg): This number is generated by dividing an athlete’s peak power by their body weight. This defines how powerful an athlete is relative to their body size, also known as “pound-for-pound” power.
CATAPULT METRICS (SPRINTS)
Players will have a Catapult unit and vest to wear during the on-field portion of testing. Using GPS technology, these units will track Max Velocity (mph) and Max Acceleration (m/s/s). For Max Acceleration, each player will perform two reps of a “take off” or “get off” for 10-20 yards. For Max Velocity, each athlete will perform two reps of a “flying sprint” in which they will build up their speed for 10-15 yards, then sprint as fast as possible for another 10-20 yards, before finally cruising to a gradual stop for another 10-20 yards.
VALD DYNAMO METRICS (GRIP)
The VALD Dynamo is a device that measures grip strength (newtons or pounds). Each athlete will squeeze the device’s handle as hard as possible for approximately 3-5 seconds, keeping their elbow at a 90-degree angle and tucked closely to their side. Athletes will record three reps on each hand. Grip strength is key in football, whether it be a battle in the trenches or a tackle that needs to be made in the open field. Another benefit of this metric is that it is highly correlated to a player’s state of readiness, which will provide more insight to an athlete’s recovery levels.
