Sports

New Army Fitness Test Includes Gender

The U.S. Army is set to implement a redesigned fitness test that introduces gender-neutral standards for combat roles and eliminates one of its most controversial events. The Army Fitness Test (AFT), announced on Monday as the official replacement for the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), seeks to bolster warfighting readiness and ensure soldiers across combat […]

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2 weeks ago

April 22, 2025

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The U.S. Army is set to implement a redesigned fitness test that introduces gender-neutral standards for combat roles and eliminates one of its most controversial events.

The Army Fitness Test (AFT), announced on Monday as the official replacement for the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), seeks to bolster warfighting readiness and ensure soldiers across combat military occupational specialties (MOS) meet the same physical standards.

According to the Army’s official announcement, the AFT is designed to create a “physically ready force capable of meeting operational demands in austere environments.” The phased rollout is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2025, with “sex-neutral” scoring standards for combat roles taking effect on January 1, 2026, for active-duty soldiers and June 1, 2026, for Reserve and National Guard units.

The Context

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has emphasized that combat roles should be held to uniform standards across genders.

In March, Hegseth said in a video: “Different standards for men and women in combat arms MOSes and jobs, that’s not acceptable. We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles.”

Army recruitment — La Quinta High JROTC Audrina Espinoza, 16, applying camouflage face paint as she participates in the Army Career Fair at the Armed Forces Reserve Center near Moreno Valley, California, on October 24, 2023.
La Quinta High JROTC Audrina Espinoza, 16, applying camouflage face paint as she participates in the Army Career Fair at the Armed Forces Reserve Center near Moreno Valley, California, on October 24, 2023.
Watchara Phomicinda/The Orange County Register via AP

The gender-neutral standards are set to apply to soldiers and officers in 21 combat-focused MOSes, including infantry, armor, artillery, cavalry and Special Forces.

“For those 21 MOSes, they will all be graded on the male scale, so it will be sex neutral,” Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann told the military publication Task & Purpose. “The passing score for most people will be a 300 with a minimum of 60 in every event. For those in those 21 specialties, the passing score will be 350 with a minimum of 60 in every event.”

This initiative aligns with congressional directives from the fiscal year 2024 defense bill, which required the Army to establish “increased minimum fitness standards” for combat roles. The new standards originally covered 20 MOSes before the Army added the Special Forces warrant officer role.

What Does the Army Fitness Test Include?

The new AFT retains five events:

Three-repetition maximum deadlift
Hand-release push-ups with army extension
Sprint-drag-carry
Plank
Two-mile run

The standing power throw, colloquially known as the “yeet” event, has been eliminated. “Studies showed that the throw had the greatest risk of injury,” Command Sergeant Major Stephanie Carl told Task & Purpose, adding that factors such as height and technique could skew results.

The AFT’s combat standard, detailed in the Army’s announcement, requires soldiers in combat specialties to score a minimum of 60 points per event, with a total minimum score of 350. The general standard for noncombat roles remains performance-normed by sex and age, with a minimum of 60 points per event and a total score of 300.

These changes introduce significant adjustments for women in combat roles. Under previous scoring, a woman aged 17 to 21 needed to deadlift 120 pounds to pass. Under the new standard, she must lift 140 pounds. Similarly, the sprint-drag-carry event time for this group shortens from 3 minutes and 15 seconds to 2 minutes and 28 seconds.

“The one thing that’s definite is no standard will be lowered,” Naumann said.

Concerns that these new standards could disproportionately affect women stem from data collected during the ACFT trials. In testing done in 2019, 84 percent of female soldiers failed the ACFT, compared to a 70 percent pass rate for men in similar units, according to a RAND Corporation assessment. The Service Women’s Action Network criticized the initial rollout, calling the process “rash” because “too many otherwise qualified soldiers are failing elements of the test.”

Still, Army leadership remains confident that the new standards will strengthen the force without significantly affecting retention. “I don’t think we’re going to suddenly see drastic changes in failure rates,” Naumann said. “There’s always been some people who fail whether through personal choice or just in ability to get there. I don’t think that we’re going to suddenly see mass amounts of retention problems. I would argue people want to be in organizations that have high standards.”

Implementation guidance and detailed scorecards for the AFT are expected to be released in the coming weeks, according to the Army. The Army said it would continue monitoring the new test’s effect on readiness, retention and end strength.

“Just like I wouldn’t put someone with a low test score on their ASVAB into a cyber job because there’s a certain level of intelligence that we assume is necessary to do that job, there’s a certain level of fitness that’s necessary to do certain jobs,” Naumann said. “It’s about being a fit force that’s ready to fight.”

Related Topics:center event fit fitness group new orange sports test video

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IHSAA boys volleyball going through first-year growing pains

LAFAYETTE ― Harrison senior defensive specialist Isaac Vargas somehow leapt high enough on a spike attempt, getting his hand on the ball to continue a rally against McCutcheon at Harold May Gymnasium. Boys volleyball was being played at an elite level that night. The crowd was into it the whole way. Emotional swings seemingly with […]

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23 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

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Boys volleyball was being played at an elite level that night. The crowd was into it the whole way. Emotional swings seemingly with every point. The match would go five sets ― Harrison would win, but both sides exhausted once it ended.

There is no denying high school boys volleyball in Indiana anymore. It’s not new to the state — just new to the IHSAA this year. Boys volleyball has held a competitive infrastructure in Indiana for decades, with state playoffs and a lineal championship dating back to 1994 under the Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association (IBVCA).

When the official governing body of high school sports in the state designated it as an “emerging sport” three years ago, though, numbers skyrocketed. Schools participating in the state tournament rose from 35 teams in 2022 to the now-133 teams set to compete for the first IHSAA state title in 2025.

But the transition from IBVCA to IHSAA has come with growing pains as schools, coaches and the IHSAA attempt to keep up with the demand of new players and teams.

“Rule of 3”

Andrew Fuller, the Carmel High School head coach who is also the boys volleyball director at both Boiler Juniors and The Academy in Indianapolis, found himself at a crossroads when trying to determine who could receive training and play for club teams and those he had to omit in summer 2024.

“There were roughly 25 kids I couldn’t have on a high school team because of the current IHSAA rules,” Fuller said.

Fuller was forced to turn athletes away at his club teams because of IHSAA rule 15.2.2, commonly referred to as “rule of 3,” which limits how many high school athletes can join the same club team during the offseason.

The goal of 15.2.2 is to prevent the creation of ‘super teams,’ with students playing with high school teammates year-round. The rule, in theory, allows for non-club athletes a fair shot at making varsity teams.

“It also allows coaches to have a break and gives an opportunity for kids to play other sports,” IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig also mentioned.

Rule of 3 limit by sport	Maximum number of athletes who can play for same club/travel team
Volleyball	3
Football	6
Softball	5
Soccer	7
Softball	5
Baseball	5

But with only four schools in the Lafayette area ― Lafayette Jeff, McCutcheon, Harrison and Crawfordsville ― fielding boys volleyball teams, it means less opportunity for students to receive training. That includes access to academies, clinics and AAU programs who can teach them how to pass, receive, set, serve and hit while also maintaining those skills year-round to sustain competitive balance.

“It puts a damper on boys volleyball in the area … with that rule, only one team is allowed to be made at Boiler Juniors,” McCutcheon coach Keith Crisler said. “That causes a lot of kids to lose an opportunity who wanted to play and lose out on reps which could not only grow the sport itself, but also growth on an individual scale.”

Too short of a season?

Maybe the biggest struggle has come with the truncated 7-week season, which coaches say is hurting players. Harrison and McCutcheon would eventually play six games in eight days between April 21 and April 29, including three best-of-five matches and five best-of-three matches in tournaments scattered near the greater Indianapolis area.

“We’re being asked to push these kids, and to be honest with you, my boys are tired right now,” Harrison coach Kristie Hostetler said. “You worry about injury from overuse right now. And that’s a real concern.”

Possible solutions

A long-term solution to help the talent gap will be the development of feeder systems. Since the sport is new to most schools, they don’t have kids in elementary and middle school playing for years before reaching high school like how established IHSAA sports do. That, of course, takes time to build.

There are more immediate solutions to get more players involved. Neidig suggested coaches offer clinics as a way to introduce the sport to either current or new high school players and middle school students who can’t afford club registration fees. To be a member of Boiler Juniors Metro II team, the cost is $450 in team tuition, $78 for a tryout and $50 per tournament.

“If programs could offer more free-of-charge clinics to learn the sport of volleyball and burden the cost, that would help grow the sport,” Neidig said.

Lafayette Jeff coach TJ Brandenburg shares similar thoughts to Neidig. In addition to being in the process of creating a middle school program at Tecumseh Middle School, Brandenburg runs a company called Private Lessons Are Yours (PLAY) that specializes in offering affordable clinics for volleyball, basketball, football, wrestling and track.

“Most of the kids that I coach at clinics have never touched a volleyball before,” Brandenburg said. “And our goal is to get you interested and to get you wanting to go to your club and wanting you to play on your team. The more kids that do that, the lower club costs can be because you’re getting more kids. I don’t think camps and clinics are a replacement for club ― I think they are good in addition to club.”

While coaches agree there are issues to work out as boys volleyball develops into an IHSAA sport, they are happy to be recognized by the Association. When the news was first announced that Mackey Arena on the campus of Purdue in West Lafayette would host the first volleyball state finals on Saturday, May 31, Fuller commended the move.

“I think the IHSAA putting the state championship at Mackey Arena is a great opportunity to spearhead growth as we continue to grow the sport and work with (the IHSAA) to provide opportunities for more players,” said Fuller on April 25.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.

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Sports

Bucknell University

LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell women’s track & field program has a long history of combining academic and athletic success. The lineage continued with Evelyn Bliss and Kaitlyn Segreti receiving slots on the 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Patriot League Team as announced Tuesday by the conference office. Bliss, a biology major, continued her All-American […]

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43 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

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LEWISBURG, Pa.- The Bucknell women’s track & field program has a long history of combining academic and athletic success. The lineage continued with Evelyn Bliss and Kaitlyn Segreti receiving slots on the 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Patriot League Team as announced Tuesday by the conference office.

Bliss, a biology major, continued her All-American success on and off the throws course with a 3.25 GPA. The sophomore star repeated as the Patriot League javelin champion last Friday, throwing 53.77m (176-5). Bliss will compete at the NCAA First Round (May 28-31) for the chance to return to the NCAA National Championships (June 11-14). She earned All-American honors last year with a 13th place finish.

Segreti, an Arts History & Studio Art major, shined in the classroom, obtaining a sparkling 3.98 GPA. A senior walk-on to the cross country and track & field program, Segreti proved an impressive addition and finished seventh in the 10,000-meter run at the 2025 Patriot League Outdoor Championships. She ran 37:33.58 in the event.

Bucknell women’s track & field will send Bliss and Brylee Tereska to the NCAA First Round. Several other athletes might possibly go depending on marks and times.

2025 Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Vera Sjöberg, Boston University, Jr.

2025 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Patriot League Team

Lorelei Bangit	(American)
Charlotte Richman	(Army West Point)
Emily Fink	(Army West Point)
Jordan Hecht	(Army West Point)
Mikayla Cheney	(Army West Point)
Zoe Eggleston	(Army West Point)
Alli Lofquist	(Boston University)
Asia Hamilton	(Boston University)
Ijeoma Ezechukwu	(Boston University)
Peace Omonzane	(Boston University)
Vera Sjöberg	(Boston University)
Evelyn Bliss	(Bucknell)
Kaitlyn Segreti	(Bucknell)
Ella Grey	(Holy Cross)
Haley Murphy	(Holy Cross)
Maura Switzer	(Holy Cross)
Ida Moczerniuk	(Lafayette)
Laura Reigle	(Lehigh)
Kylie Maddalena	(Loyola Maryland)
Alex Wercinski	(Navy)
Gracie Emerick	(Navy)

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ACTSports starts boys volleyball program to help grow game

Fort Defiance senior Sara Turner On Fort’s 18-8 win over Buffalo Gap and her two home runs ACTSports launched a boys volleyball program this spring due to increased demand and logistical feasibility. While girls volleyball is popular in area high schools, boys volleyball is less common, prompting ACTSports to foster its growth. Experienced coaches provided […]

Published

44 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ACTSports launched a boys volleyball program this spring due to increased demand and logistical feasibility.
While girls volleyball is popular in area high schools, boys volleyball is less common, prompting ACTSports to foster its growth.
Experienced coaches provided fundamental training, focusing on serving, passing, and setting, leading to significant player improvement.

ACTSports is hoping to grow the sport of boys volleyball in the area. The Christian-based youth sports organization, located in Augusta County just outside of Staunton, offers flag football, soccer, baseball and girls volleyball, but this spring it added boys volleyball.

Tracy Sherrill, the director of ACTSports, said families had been asking about volleyball for boys in recent years. It was something ACTSports wanted to add, but it was a matter of finding court time and coaches. The organization employed a full-time administrative position this year, something that helped ACTSports add a new sport to its offerings.

“It was just the right fit as far as the logistics,” Sherrill said.

Volleyball has been popular in area high schools for years, but only for girls. While the Virginia High School League does sponsor boys volleyball, it’s mostly in larger public schools. According to the Virginia High School League’s page, the organization sponsored two state championships for boys — one for classes 1-4 and one for 5-6.

In Virginia, where boys volleyball, like the girls game, is a fall sport, nearly 30 schools added the sport this past fall when Fairfax County began offering boys volleyball as a varsity-level sport. Before that many of the schools in that Northern Virginia county played boys volleyball as a club sport.

According to statistics from the National Federation of High Schools, boys high school volleyball across the country grew by 7,968 participants in the 2023-24 academic year. It jumped by 10,800 participants the year before that.

Yet, in the Shenandoah Valley, and specifically in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County, schools only offer girls volleyball. Sherrill hopes that ACTSports can play some role in changing that. It starts, she said, with getting boys interested in playing.

Boys volleyball began small this year, something Sherrill said ACTSports does with most of its new programs.

“You start small and you do it well and then you have something people want to be part of,” she said.

This year the organization had nine players sign up. They would like to grow that next year. It’s open to those in grades six through 12. For those interested in playing next spring, visit ACTSports website or its Facebook page for more information.

The group also added a co-ed volleyball program for younger children, second through fourth graders.

“Hopefully we can start exposing volleyball to guys a little younger,” Sherrill said.

Tiffany Eimers and Jenny Turner coached the older boys this spring. Eimers played at American University and has coached at the college level, including Mary Baldwin University. Turner played at Mary Washington and coached in Rockingham County.

Eimers said everyone wants to hit when they start playing volleyball, but the coaches began with the basics — serving and passing — for the athletes this spring.

“Lots of young men have a natural ability to set,” Eimers said. “We had a couple of setters on our team and then we worked into hitting.”

To begin the season, players struggled to get serves over the net, and when they did it was difficult to keep a rally going. In about a month she saw remarkable improvement in their play.

“It would be wonderful if it could grow and flourish,” Eimers said of boys volleyball. “It really is the ultimate team sport. Everybody has to contribute in order for it to work.”

— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

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Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union hosts inaugural Indo-Sri Lanka U21 Water Polo Championship

Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Launches HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, Powered by Anchor Newdale, and Hosts Inaugural Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), the national governing body for aquatic sports, proudly announces the HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, powered by Anchor Newdale, […]

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53 minutes ago

May 7, 2025

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Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Launches HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, Powered by Anchor Newdale, and Hosts Inaugural Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), the national governing body for aquatic sports, proudly announces the HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, powered by Anchor Newdale, to be held from 7th to 11th May 2025. This year’s championship will also feature the inaugural Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship, taking place from 8th to 11th May 2025 the first time this international water polo event is being hosted in Sri Lanka.

>>A spirited effort from S. Thomas’ not enough to crack through Trinity defense<<

SLASU governs six aquatic disciplines: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving. Traditionally, competitions in these disciplines are held independently. However, this year, SLASU is bringing swimming, diving, and water polo together into one vibrant national event to foster greater unity, create an exciting championship atmosphere, and generate broader public interest in emerging and underrepresented aquatic disciplines like diving and water polo.

To ensure the event reaches audiences across Sri Lanka and beyond, ThePapare.com and ThePapare TV 2 HD (Dialog TV Channel 127) will live telecast all five days of competition, offering fans unprecedented access to the action from anywhere in the world.

>>SLC brings in former India fielding coach R. Sridhar to elevate National Fielding Standards<<

The HNB Age Group Aquatic Championships 2025, powered by Anchor Newdale is made possible thanks to the commitment and generosity of a strong lineup of partners:

Title Sponsor: Hatton National Bank (HNB)

Gold Sponsor: Anchor Newdale

Silver Sponsors: Glory Sports and Stingray Swimming School

Food & Beverage Partner: Perera and Sons

Education Partner: Oxford School of Business

Activewear Partner: Run Club

Outdoor Digital Partner: Emerging Media

This championship also marks the official launch of SLASU’s Elite Athlete Management Program, a transformative initiative designed to support the long term development and retention of Sri Lanka’s top aquatic athletes. HNB is introducing specialized financial solutions for student athletes to continue their education while competing at national and international levels. The Oxford School of Business has also stepped forward with scholarships for elite swimmers to pursue higher education within Sri Lanka. Furthermore, SLASU is working with leading corporates to offer flexible employment to swimmers over 18, allowing them to continue their athletic careers while gaining valuable work experience helping ensure they stay and compete in Sri Lanka.

The event will also serve as the stage for the Indo-Sri Lanka Under-21 Water Polo Championship, a landmark bilateral series. Featuring both boys’ and girls’ teams from Sri Lanka and India, the tournament is set to become an annual fixture, with each nation hosting the event in alternate years. Sri Lanka is honoured to host the inaugural edition this year, with a return leg planned in India in 2026. SLASU is currently in discussions with the Swimming Federation of India to expand the collaboration in the near future to include senior national teams as well.

With this landmark event, SLASU reinforces its commitment to raising the standard of aquatic sports in Sri Lanka, nurturing future champions, and building strong international partnerships through meaningful competition.

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7 minor league ballparks to visit this summer

Photo: MLB.com Summer in the United States is practically synonymous with backyard barbecues, fishing at the lake — and baseball. Definitely baseball. While Major League stadiums deliver major league talent and electrifying pennant races, seats can be expensive and far from the action. Advertisement That’s where minor league baseball comes in. What the minor league […]

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1 hour ago

May 7, 2025

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7 minor league ballparks to visit this summer

Image for article titled 7 minor league ballparks to visit this summer — Photo: MLB.com

Summer in the United States is practically synonymous with backyard barbecues, fishing at the lake — and baseball. Definitely baseball. While Major League stadiums deliver major league talent and electrifying pennant races, seats can be expensive and far from the action.

That’s where minor league baseball comes in. What the minor league may lack in marquee names, it makes up for with fan experience. You feel close and connected to the game — and hot dogs don’t cost a fortune.

Most minor league parks are very kid and pet-friendly, making it a true summer outing for the whole family. Plus, most future Major League stars pass through the minors on the way to the majors, so you just might be watching the next Shohei Ohtani or Andrew McCutchen.

Here are some minor league teams you’ll want to check out this summer.

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Water polo team makes history after coach’s death

LEBANON, Ill. (First Alert 4) – The McKendree women’s water polo team is having its best year in program history. With a 21-7 record, the Bearcats are NCAA Tournament bound, a moment that’s been eight seasons in the making. “This program has put in a lot of work to get here,” said McKendree senior goalkeeper […]

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2 hours ago

May 7, 2025

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LEBANON, Ill. (First Alert 4) – The McKendree women’s water polo team is having its best year in program history.

With a 21-7 record, the Bearcats are NCAA Tournament bound, a moment that’s been eight seasons in the making.

“This program has put in a lot of work to get here,” said McKendree senior goalkeeper Sydney Kane.

“When I saw that time run to zero, everything came out,” said McKendree senior attacker Jasmin Guzman.

The moment marked the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth, something longtime head coach Colleen Lischwe had always dreamt of.

“I remember I was talking to Colleen my sophomore year and she said her dream was to get to the NCAA tournament,” said Guzman.

Lischwe never saw that dream become a reality, as she died in a car crash on January 15, 2025, just 10 days before the team’s first game this season.

“It was tough, we heard news on a Wednesday,” said Kane. “Saturday, Sunday we spent the whole day together as a team and we knew we had to get right back into it. Monday, we jumped back in the pool and had our first practice, got it out of the way. We all mourned and grieved together as a team.”

“There was no manual for what to do, so I think taking it step by step and going at the pace that felt right for us,” McKendree women’s water polo head coach Alex Figueras said.

Figueras stepped in as interim head coach to lead this group of women the Lischwe way.

“Nothing really changed in my mind in terms of what we wanted to do, we just kind of had a little extra push,” he said.

“Emotionally, we were driven by the motivation that she instilled within us,” added Kane.

With Coach Lischwe in mind, the Bearcats made history and are one of nine teams in the national tournament.

“At the end of the day, pretty much all the credit for this goes to her,” said Figueras.

Her pregame speech still lives through this team every day.

“Before every game, I think in my head this thing she would say is ‘I love you, I trust you have fun,’” Kane said.

McKendree’s national tournament journey begins on Wednesday, May 7 vs. Wagner.

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