CFA - I Gotta Ask... Really?

Craig said:
http://www.usma.edu/admissions/Shared Documents/CFA_Instructions.pdf

See bottom page 1....Averages. Yes it is USMA but will be close to what Navy is.
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http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/fitness-assessment/

Air force has posted their averages too. For some reason their averages are a good bit higher than USMA's. 3 more pull ups, 7 more push ups, 9 more sit ups, .2 seconds fatser on the shuttle, 7 seconds faster on the mile, and 2 more feet on the basketball throw.
 
Yes, the times and CFA scores are for real. Head shaking real. My MIDN says most aim to max out as many parts of the CFA they can. Not average, but max. It can be done.
 
Well that is good advice from everyone, I know he can do it, thanks everyone!
 
dakine said:
Yes, the times and CFA scores are for real. Head shaking real. My MIDN says most aim to max out as many parts of the CFA they can. Not average, but max. It can be done.
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So true. It is the one portion of the WCS that they have 100% control over. SAT, class rank, recs, they have limited control. CFA they do have complete control.
 
Pima said:
dakine said:
Yes, the times and CFA scores are for real. Head shaking real. My MIDN says most aim to max out as many parts of the CFA they can. Not average, but max. It can be done.
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So true. It is the one portion of the WCS that they have 100% control over. SAT, class rank, recs, they have limited control. CFA they do have complete control.
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Definitely go for the max. 10% of your WCS if I recall correctly. You can control this one. You know what the questions are going into the test. You just have to study (workout).
 
It is 10%, but this is only for USMA I think. I believe the CFA for USNA is Pass/Fail.
 
I have trouble thinking any coach would post an inaccurate time or fudge on distance. Fromthe Mids I havegotten to know are incredibly hardworking and moral kids. There is not an easy way but it is doable. My DD now at USNA actually ran with the girls HS XC team all summer mainly to get her mile time down and be with some fun kids in the process. She worked with the XC coach as well. Her main sport lets just say was not running, sort of the equivalent of a lineman in football. Her time went down about a minute over the summer. I am a dumpy middle aged slightly overweight guy with short legs and trained for marathons during my late 40's. I went from 1/4 mile at 8 minute per mile pace (exhaustion at running for just 2 minutes!) to running a 5:50 mile interval in a 5k (never raced a mile). Ran marathons at 7:55 pace eventually...within 2 and1/2 years. I was compulsive about training intervals, tempo runs, and distance but only ran 3 days a week because of my age. I got fitter, but with lifting you don't have to lose muscle mass. I still regularly lose races to "clydesdale" runners. I think you underestimate how fast, especially a teenager, can get. Human adaptation to training is amazing. It can be done but not without an intelligent, dedicated, and adhered to plan. Basically hard work. Think about meeting with a local HS XC or track coach. I got my plan from runners world website. I believe the times.
 
The academies look at the entire package. On I-Day I have seen big and small cadets that looked like they could not possibly do the numbers. My son lost over 30 lbs (football player) to get fit. Don't strive for the minimum, strive for your best. -Dad of Cadet.
 
Any Females out there have their BBall throw score? Only issue for my DD. She maxes all other scores except the BBall throw. We see 42' as the average, anyone get less?
 
Mom_CHgn said:
Any Females out there have their BBall throw score? Only issue for my DD. She maxes all other scores except the BBall throw. We see 42' as the average, anyone get less?
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Have your DD watch this video -- about the 2 min mark for the basketball throw. It really is about technique in order to get the distance.
 
ca2midwestmom said:
Mom_CHgn said:
Any Females out there have their BBall throw score? Only issue for my DD. She maxes all other scores except the BBall throw. We see 42' as the average, anyone get less?
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Have your DD watch this video -- about the 2 min mark for the basketball throw. It really is about technique in order to get the distance.
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I've tried the form in that video and in my experience it doesn't work very well.


This person's form worked a lot better for me.
 
Both videos show the person leaning back and throwing with their whole body. For my DS, having never played a ball sport, he needed to work on technique and he thought he had to throw with his arm only, but he could never get distance on it. After watching a couple of videos (maybe he watched both of these, I don't know) and practicing, he was able to get between average-max score. The BB throw is often the event candidates struggle with.
 
ca2midwestmom said:
Both videos show the person leaning back and throwing with their whole body. For my DS, having never played a ball sport, he needed to work on technique and he thought he had to throw with his arm only, but he could never get distance on it. After watching a couple of videos (maybe he watched both of these, I don't know) and practicing, he was able to get between average-max score. The BB throw is often the event candidates struggle with.
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In the video you put the person didn't bring the ball downwards, that's the main difference. I think bringing the ball downwards gives you a lot more room to cock it back which allows you to get more momentum. But to each his own. The method in the video you posted may work better for some.
 
Our DD spoke with her Crossfit trainer and he said he would help her get ready. When she explained the BBall throw he said his head was spinning. He tried and got the ball just passed where our DD threw it. This actually made her feel a little less stressed and more confident. If he couldn't throw far right away then she knew it was just going to be a "learned" technique and muscle memory. He is an ex Navy Seal (no they didn't EVER have to learn to do the BBall throw), Our local HS weight trainer and lineman coach. So he is going to figure it out and get her prepared.
 
It really is technique and something with time and practice that can get better and better. Learn what works and doesn't work, what muscles to engage and develop, and just pure repetition. I was a softball catcher and basketball player, so it was a normal motion for me and I felt at home with a basketball in my hand. Sounds like you got a great trainer who will definitely help her out!
 
When my DD took the PFA at the Summer Seminar, I think she did something around 32' on the basketball throw. It is not something she ever practiced. They told her at the academy that the PFA had to be uniform across the academies and that Army wanted the basketball throw included, Navy really didn't care. When they gave awards at the end of the week for top performers on the PFA, they excluded the basketball throw. She had no problem passing the PFA. All this to say that I wouldn't worry about spending a great amount of time on practicing the basketball throw. If she maxes the other areas, they won't care how far she can throw a basketball.
 
bman said:
When my DD took the PFA at the Summer Seminar, I think she did something around 32' on the basketball throw. It is not something she ever practiced. They told her at the academy that the PFA had to be uniform across the academies and that Army wanted the basketball throw included, Navy really didn't care. When they gave awards at the end of the week for top performers on the PFA, they excluded the basketball throw. She had no problem passing the PFA. All this to say that I wouldn't worry about spending a great amount of time on practicing the basketball throw. If she maxes the other areas, they won't care how far she can throw a basketball.
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Your DD passed with a 32 foot basketball throw?
 
Yes. She maxed the sit ups and push ups and did well on the run. She only managed one pull up, but that was one more than the other girls in her group taking the PFA.
 
bman said:
When my DD took the PFA at the Summer Seminar, I think she did something around 32' on the basketball throw. It is not something she ever practiced. They told her at the academy that the PFA had to be uniform across the academies and that Army wanted the basketball throw included, Navy really didn't care. When they gave awards at the end of the week for top performers on the PFA, they excluded the basketball throw. She had no problem passing the PFA. All this to say that I wouldn't worry about spending a great amount of time on practicing the basketball throw. If she maxes the other areas, they won't care how far she can throw a basketball.
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If your DD is applying to West Point also, they will care. If her BB throw is close to the minimum, WP may ask (authorize) her to retake the CFA. WP does weigh the BB throw more than the other SAs. Someone made the (tongue-in-cheek) comment -- "no one in the Air Force is going to be asked to throw a grenade." :p It's in your DD's best interest to get at least the average but aim for the max. Good luck!
 
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