Stop guessing. Start training with real data.
VALD is a suite of performance testing tools that measure strength, power, balance, and asymmetries—quickly and objectively. It helps athletes and active adults identify what to focus on, track progress over time, and make smarter training decisions.
Baseline → Training priorities → Retest (measure what changed)
Strength + power + imbalance insight (not just “how it felt”)
Clear reporting you can understand and use
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Trusted in high-performance sport
VALD technology is used across professional and collegiate sport to measure performance, monitor development, and support return-to-play decisions—so training is guided by data, not assumptions.
We’ve brought this same objective testing into our performance facility so athletes and active adults can train with clarity and track progress over time.
What VALD actually tells you
VALD testing helps answer the questions athletes and parents care about most:
- What am I good at right now?
- What’s limiting my performance?
- Am I symmetrical and stable—or compensating?
- Am I getting better… or just working harder?
This isn’t a random collection of tests. It’s a repeatable way to measure key performance qualities, identify priorities, and retest to confirm progress.
Understanding VALD
Why We Measure Performance — and Why It Matters for Your Athlete
If your son or daughter receives a report card in school, you understand why assessment matters.
We test to understand.
We measure to improve.
We reassess to confirm progress.
Athletic development should be no different.
At PowerSource Performance Fitness, we use VALD performance technology to remove guesswork from training and give athletes — and parents — objective clarity.
The Simple Explanation
VALD is like a “radar gun” for the entire body.
A radar gun doesn’t teach a pitcher how to throw.
It measures velocity so coaches know what to improve.
VALD works the same way.
It measures:
- How much force an athlete produces
- How explosive they are
- How balanced their left and right sides are
- Where hidden weaknesses may exist
- How progress changes over time
Instead of relying on how something “looks,” we measure what is actually happening.
Why Guesswork Isn’t Enough Anymore
For decades, strength training was based mostly on observation:
- “He looks stronger.”
- “Her jump seems better.”
- “That side looks weaker.”
But high-level sports performance — from professional teams to Division I programs — now relies on objective data.
Why?
Because small imbalances or force deficits that can’t be seen by the eye often show up later as:
- Performance plateaus
- Decreased explosiveness
- Increased injury risk
VALD allows us to detect those patterns early and design training that directly addresses them.
Think of It Like a School Semester
Step 1: Baseline Assessment
At the start of a program, we measure your athlete’s current abilities.
This is their diagnostic test.
Step 2: Targeted Training
We build training around what the data shows — not assumptions.
Step 3: Retesting
We reassess on a structured schedule to confirm improvement.
Just like academics, progress should be measurable — not guessed.
What We Actually Measure (In Plain English)
Explosive Power
How quickly and effectively your athlete can produce force.
This impacts sprinting, jumping, change of direction, and sport performance.
Strength Around Key Joints
We test how strong the muscles are around the knees, hips, and other critical areas — especially important for growing athletes.
Left vs. Right Balance
Small imbalances between sides are common in youth athletes.
If left unaddressed, they can affect mechanics and durability.
Rate of Force Development
Not just how strong someone is — but how quickly they can access that strength.
Speed in sports comes from force applied quickly.
Why Parents Appreciate This Approach
Parents often ask:
“How do I know the program is working?”
With VALD, you don’t have to rely on opinion.
You receive:
- Clear baseline metrics
- Periodic progress reports
- Objective comparisons over time
- Data that informs smarter training decisions
It provides confidence that your athlete’s development is structured and intentional.
Does This Replace Coaching?
No.
Technology does not replace coaching — it strengthens it.
VALD gives coaches better information.
Coaches use that information to design better training.
The combination of objective data and experienced coaching is what drives real development.
Is This Only for Elite Athletes?
Not at all.
In fact, youth athletes benefit the most from early measurement because:
- They are still developing
- Growth changes movement patterns
- Small imbalances can compound over time
Understanding where they are now helps guide where they should go next.
The Bigger Picture
It is common to measure:
- Heart rate for conditioning
- GPA for academics
- Blood pressure for health
- Speed with a stopwatch
But Modern athletic development deserves the same clarity.
A stopwatch tells you how fast someone finishes.
SmartSpeed tells us how they accelerated, how they slowed down, and how efficiently they changed direction.
That difference is enormous.
Two athletes may both run a 5.0 second sprint.
But one may:
- Accelerate poorly
- Brake inefficiently
- Lose time during direction changes
The gates allow us to isolate where time is gained or lost — so training becomes targeted, not generic.
Training without measurement is like studying without exams.
You may be working hard — but you don’t truly know what’s improving.
What Your Athlete Experiences
Testing is:
- Safe
- Supervised
- Structured
- Age-appropriate
Athletes typically enjoy the process because they can see and track their progress over time.
It creates ownership and motivation.
Why This Matters for the Long Term
High school sports are competitive.
Objective measurement helps:
- Identify strengths
- Address weaknesses
- Reduce unnecessary training volume
- Support safer progression
- Provide tangible proof of development
Whether an athlete’s goal is varsity contribution, collegiate recruitment, or simply long-term health and durability — structured measurement provides clarity.
Our Philosophy
At PowerSource Performance Fitness, we believe:
Clarity builds confidence.
Measurement drives improvement.
Data supports better decisions.
VALD is simply the tool that allows us to operate with precision rather than assumption.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’d like to understand how testing integrates into our High School Performance Programs, visit our Testing & Reporting page or schedule a consultation to see how structured performance measurement can support your athlete’s development.
Every level of athlete benefits—because every level needs clarity
VALD isn’t “only for elite athletes.” It’s for anyone who wants their training to be more targeted, more effective, and easier to track.
Developing athletes (youth → high school → college-bound)
- Build a true baseline and train with purpose (not just effort)
- Identify left/right imbalances and weak links early
- Track progress through growth spurts and sport seasons
- Reduce the “I’m working hard but not improving” problem
High performers (college → pro → highly competitive)
- Small improvements matter; testing helps you decide what to push vs protect
- Monitor key qualities during heavy training/competition blocks
- Add objective checkpoints that support performance and readiness
If you can measure it, you can manage it—strength, power, and symmetry included.
What we test at PowerSource
We select tests based on your goals and sport, but these are the core tools we use:
Types of VALD Scans
ForceDecks (Dual Force Plates)
ForceDecks: Power + force production
Force plates help quantify how you produce force—how explosive you are, how you land, and whether one side is doing more work than the other.
Common use-cases:
- Power and explosiveness benchmarks
- Jump strategy and landing mechanics
- Side-to-side differences that affect performance and durability
Common tests:
- Countermovement Jump (CMJ)
- Balance / stability tests
- Strength/power profiling (as appropriate)
ForceFrame
ForceFrame: Joint-level strength + asymmetry
ForceFrame helps isolate and quantify strength around key joints and positions. It’s especially useful for finding “weak links” that don’t show up until performance stalls or pain shows up.
Common use-cases:
- Identify side-to-side differences
- Pinpoint undertrained positions
- Guide accessory work and targeted strength priorities
SmartSpeed Timing Gates
Speed Gates: Speed, Agility, and Reactivity
There are a wide variety of drills that can be run with SmartSpeed timing gates, but they can be grouped into three categories:
One-way timing (Linear Sprint) – is commonly used to measure speed improvement with straight line sprints.
Cut Drills – are used to measure the transition from planned to unplanned change of direction movements.
Grid Drills – are used to measure multiple reactive movements and changes of direction.
ForceDecks: Dual Force Plate System
Countermovement Jump (CMJ)
What the test looks like:
The athlete begins standing upright on the force plates.
- Feet are approximately shoulder-width apart
- Hands are placed on the hips to eliminate arm swing
- The athlete stands still before initiating the movement
- The athlete performs a rapid downward movement (countermovement) by bending the hips and knees.
- Immediately after reaching the bottom of the movement, the athlete jumps vertically as high as possible.
- The athlete lands back on the force plates and stabilizes.
Key Metric: Lower-body power
Why it matters: Lower body power for athletes is similar to measuring the horsepower of a car. How much vertical power the athlete can generate influences:
- sprint speed
- jumping ability
- explosive first steps
- throwing and hitting power.
Isometric Belt Squat Test (IBSQT)
What the test looks like:
The athlete then assumes the belt-squat testing position; then performs a maximal isometric effort for 2-3 seconds.
Key Metric: Peak Force
Why it matters: Think of this as the engine of athletic performance.
Every time an athlete:
- sprints
- jumps
- pushes off to change direction
- throws or hits with power
they rely on their legs to push force into the ground.
The stronger that push is, the more speed and power they can create.
Drop Jump Test
What the test looks like:
The athlete steps off a box, lands on the plates, and immediately performs a maximal vertical jump. The goal is to produce the highest jump possible while minimizing the time spent on the ground.
Key Metric: Reactive Strength-explosive power
Secondary Metric: Landing mechanics
Why it matters: Think of it like a rubber ball vs. a beanbag.
- A rubber ball hits the ground and immediately bounces back up.
- A beanbag hits the ground and just sits there.
Athletes with strong reactive strength behave more like the rubber ball. They land, absorb the force, and instantly push off again.
Athletes with weaker reactive strength behave more like the beanbag. They take longer to absorb the landing before they can move again.
ForceFrame: Strength Testing System
Isometric Hip Abduction/Adduction
Measures: Strength and symmetry of hip stabilizers
Why it matters: Critical for fall prevention, ACL injury risk, and lower-body alignment.
Isometric Shoulder External/Internal Rotation
Measures: Rotator cuff strength and balance
Why it matters: Helps reduce shoulder injury risk in throwing, lifting, or overhead athletes.
Isometric Knee Extension/Flexion
Measures: Quadriceps and hamstring strength
Why it matters: Supports return-to-sport, injury recovery, and muscle balance tracking.
Isometric Neck Flexion/Extension
Measures: Cervical spine and neck muscle control
Why it matters: Beneficial for contact sports and whiplash recovery — builds resilience.
SmartSpeed Timing Gates
Acceleration
What it is:
How quickly an athlete builds speed from a stationary start (first 0–10 yards).
Why it matters:
Most plays are decided in the first 2–3 steps — leaving the batter’s box, exploding off the line, closing space defensively.
Why we measure it:
Split timing shows whether an athlete’s limiter is starting strength, stride efficiency, or transition mechanics. This tells us exactly what to train.
Agility
What it is:
The ability to rapidly change body position in response to movement or stimulus.
Why it matters:
Sport is reactive. Athletes don’t move on a whistle — they respond to opponents, ball flight, and play development.
Why we measure it:
Timed reactive drills separate decision speed from physical movement speed, allowing targeted development instead of generic “cone work.”
Curvilinear Speed
What it is:
Speed while running on an arc or curve rather than in a straight line.
Why it matters:
Base running, tracking fly balls, defensive pursuit angles — athletes rarely sprint in straight lines during competition.
Why we measure it:
Straight-line speed does not automatically transfer to curved sprint efficiency. Measuring this identifies asymmetries and technical inefficiencies that cost time.
Change of Direction
What it is:
The ability to decelerate, plant, and re-accelerate in a new direction.
Why it matters:
Cutting, defending, route running, and open-field play all depend on braking strength and re-acceleration.
Why we measure it:
Timed COD tests reveal whether lost time occurs during deceleration or re-acceleration — exposing the real physical limiter.
You don’t just get numbers—you get a plan
Your assessment includes:
- Baseline testing (fast, coach-guided, repeatable)
- Coach review (what matters, what doesn’t, what to focus on first)
- Training priorities (the “do these things to improve” list)
- Retest plan (so you can confirm improvement, not guess)
- Shareable report (helpful for parents, coaches, and support teams)
The goal is clarity: what to train, how to progress, and how to know it’s working.
Recommended assessment options
Most people start with a baseline. Competitive athletes often add follow-ups during the season.
Option A: Baseline (best first step)
- ForceDecks + ForceFrame essentials
- Coach review + priorities
- Retest recommendation
Option B: Performance Builder (more complete)
- Expanded testing + deeper symmetry review
- Priorities mapped to training focus
- Best for serious HS athletes and adults who want a clearer plan
Option C: Return-to-Play / Return-to-Performance
- Baseline + checkpoints over time
- Designed to support a smarter ramp-up process
- Great for athletes who want objective milestones
FAQs
How long does testing take?
Most sessions are efficient by design. We keep testing structured, coach-led, and focused.
Do I need to be an elite athlete?
No. If you want a clear baseline and a smarter plan, testing helps—whether your goals are athletic or wellness-based.
How often should I retest?
Commonly after a focused training block, or at key points in a season. We’ll recommend timing based on goals and schedule.
Will I understand my results?
Yes. Your coach will walk you through what matters most and what to do next.
Coming next: sport-specific testing guidance
Over time we’ll publish “By Sport” pages that explain what we prioritize for different athletes (baseball/softball, soccer, football, volleyball, etc.)—so parents and athletes can quickly see what matters for their sport and season.
Ready to train with clarity?
If you want progress you can measure—start with a baseline. We’ll help you understand what the numbers mean and how to turn them into better training decisions.
Get Started Today
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