CFA Tips + Advice

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Eighth Lock

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Hey, I'm planning on doing my CFA on Monday, and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for doing well.

Also, any suggested way to warm up for the upper body sections? As a track and cross country runner, the most we do for upper body warm ups is a set of push ups. And I don't think it would be very wise going into the CFA cold, or just after a set of push ups. Neither seems like the smartest idea.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I'm going to be backpacking for 3 weeks this summer. Any tips for maintaining upper body strength during that time (the closest I'll have to a gym and weights will be a campsite and some rocks if I'm lucky :thumb:)
 
hi eighth-

I'm in the same situation. Junior in High School, XC/Track runner. Any MORE help would definitely be awesome, however there is a lot of information in this thread that I started a while back:

CFA Questions Thread

The most important advice I think is about the pushups. You can arch your back to rest, as long as you keep hands & feet still.

Have a good one
Derek
 
i'm guessing you've already been preparing and everything. really the only tips you need before you take it are:

1. remember that this test doesn't last forever, so give it all you got on each event and really relax yourself on the rest
2. focus on each event at the time you're doing it, don't think about whether or not you think you did poorly on the previous one
3. go to the brink of death on the mile :)biggrin: it's the last event, you know, just give it all you got on that!)
4. stretch!
5. learn from it
6. retake it again and again if you want
 
MChansard said:
2. focus on each event at the time you're doing it, don't think about whether or not you think you did poorly on the previous one
3. go to the brink of death on the mile :)biggrin: it's the last event, you know, just give it all you got on that!)
4. stretch!
Click to expand...

I concur on these points! (the others were also good, these were just my favorites)... Especially on the mile. If you don't feel like your lungs and heart are being ripped from your chest then you didn't run hard enough :thumb:

But warming up? I'd just recommend doing maybe 10 or so pushups to warm up for upper-body. If you're really good, you'll take no less than 30 min to get warmed up. I'm hoping you know how to prepare for the shuttle run and mile since you're on track... But for upper body just doing a few pushups, then resting then a few more will get you warmed up enough I'd say. Also for basketball throw make sure to practice a few dry-throws without the basket ball just to warm up also.

Anyways, I'm done. Good luck!
 
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I didn't warm up my upper body for the CFA and I maxed out the push ups and came close on the Pull ups. For the most part, if you are prepared, warming up isn't that critical. As for maintaining fitness, I have only been to a gym twice in my life. The push ups you can do anywhere, chin ups can be done on crazy things, even a tree branch ( i know that probably sounds really hardcore, but it works). Crunches can be done anywhere as long as someone holds your feet, and the running can also be done anywhere. Weight lifting etc really is not necessary as long as you are extremely active.
 
I wish I'd warmed up more for the basketball throw. Each trial improved, which makes me wonder if I'd have done better if I'd warmed up a little more. The rest of the suggestions are good.
 
I just did the practice CFA at USAFA summer seminar, and damn does that dry field house hurt during the mile, not to mention the altitude! My main advice to anyone taking the CFA is to run somewhere you are used to running.
 
Same, I just came back from the USAFA Summer Seminar

Here's a tip they gave us while we were out there (I'll add others if I remember)
-Basketball throw: lean far back, and throw straight over your shoulder, NOT sidearm). Try to whip your arm around. Don't try to use your arm muscles so much as your core. Also, practice is essential for the basketball throw.
 
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