GORUCK Team Assessment 2020 Standards

The inaugural year of Team Assessment saw the use of the GORUCK’s Selection standards as a gateway into the event. This year things are changing and there are a new set of standards. There is a lot of information on GORUCK’s website so hopefully this helps break it down.

It’s worth noting that the only difference between the Open Standards and the Female Standards are the number of reps required to progress into the event. The exercises and requirements for the exercises are the same.

The Standards

These are the standards for GORUCK Team Assessment 2020:

Exercise	Time Allowed	Open Requirement	Female Requirement
Hand Release Push-Ups	1 Minute	30	25
Butterfly Sit-Ups	1 Minute	40	40
Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#)	1 Minute	15	7

These standards are for each individual on the team. That means each person will need to complete the exercises above in the given time.

In addition there will be two timed rucks within the 48 hours of the GORUCK Team Assessment event. According to cadre it doesn’t sound like the distances or time requirements will be released until the participants start the event… and even the participants might not know the requirements.

Oh yeah… and according to GORUCK there are no retests.

Passing and “Scoring”

There are two components to the completion of the Team Assessment PT test: Passing and Scoring.

Passing

If your team does not pass the PT test then your team will not be allowed to continue at GORUCK Team Assessment.

The GORUCK PT Test is the first event of GORUCK Team Assessment. Minimum standards to continue to the rest of GORUCK Team Assessment are as follows…

GORUCK

This is important to understand because you do not want to show up to this huge event only to be turned away at the door. Train for more than the standard and make sure that you can pass it.

This year there is a new teammate deficiency section to the PT test which is very interesting. If one teammate fails the PT test then the other teammate is allowed to make up for their deficiencies. If the other teammate can complete enough reps so that the total number of reps is met for both individuals then the team is allowed to continue with the minimum score earned (see scoring below.) I do best with examples so let’s look at some of those below using the open standards. The number after the amount completed is the amount above or below the standard.

Example 1: Full Pass

Person 1 completes:

• Hand Release Push-Ups: 33 (+3)
• Butterfly Sit-Ups: 41 (+1)
• Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#): 15 (+0)

Person 2 completes:

• Hand Release Push-Ups: 30 (+0)
• Butterfly Sit-Ups: 42 (+2)
• Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#): 16 (+1)

The team is allowed to continue to GORUCK Team Assessment because both team members completed the PT test. They will earn some amount of points for the event.

Example 2: Deficiency Pass

Person 1 completes:

• Hand Release Push-Ups: 28 (-2)
• Butterfly Sit-Ups: 41 (+1)
• Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#): 15 (+0)

Person 2 completes:

• Hand Release Push-Ups: 32 (+2)
• Butterfly Sit-Ups: 40 (+0)
• Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#): 15 (+0)

Person 1 failed the PT test because they only completed 28 of the required 30 hand release push-ups. However, Person 2 completed 32 hand release push-ups which is above the standard of 30. The two extra hand release push-ups that Person 2 completed over the required amount are used to assist Person 1 and the team is allowed to continue to GORUCK Team Assessment because, as a team, the standard was met. They will earn the minimum number of points from this portion of the event.

Example 2: Fail

Person 1 completes:

• Hand Release Push-Ups: 31 (+1)
• Butterfly Sit-Ups: 40 (+0)
• Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#): 15 (+0)

Person 2 completes:

• Hand Release Push-Ups: 28 (-2)
• Butterfly Sit-Ups: 40 (+0)
• Sandbag Squat Cleans (80#): 15 (+0)

Person 1 completed 31 hand release push-ups which means there’s 1 extra rep in the bank if Person 2 needs it. Person 2 completes 28 hand release push-ups which does not meet the requirement of 30 to progress into the event. They are allowed to use the extra hand release push-up reps that Person 2 completed however their new total of 29 is still not good enough. The team is not allowed to continue to GORUCK Team Assessment.

Scoring

GORUCK Team Assessment is a team based competition with a scoring system. You earn points for completing various evolutions through the event and the PT Test is one of those evolutions.

If your team has a Full Pass and completes more than the minimum on the PT Test then you will receive points. No point structure has been released but, according to the event, you’ll get some amount of points.

The deal is the more you do over the minimum, the more points you get toward your team’s overall points to win TM assessment.

GORUCK

It’s pretty vague but the general idea is there… do the best you can and earn those points.

If your team moves forward due to a Deficiency Pass then your team will automatically receive the minimum number of points.

Exercise Standards

For your reps to count they must be done to the standard of the event. GORUCK has included all of the information needed, as well as pictures, in their 2020 Team Assessment PT Test PDF. If you’d rather not open that PDF you can check out the text below. The PDF does include pictures which is definitely useful.

Hand Release Push-Ups (HRPU)

At the command of “GET READY” you must lay on your chest with your palms flat on the ground parallel with your chest. It does not matter if your hands are touching the side of your chest or if they are 12″ or more to the side; your head and eyes can look at the ground or straight forward; your toes must be on the ground with your feet no more than 12″ apart.

At the command “GO” you will lift your body as one rigid unit while keeping it straight from your feet to your head. You must lock your elbows. Once your elbows and arms are at full extension lower your body as one rigid straight unit until your chest is on the ground and lift both hands simultaneously off the ground; this counts as one repetition. Continue this for one minute or until you can not go any longer.

If you fail to keep your body generally straight, extend your arms and lock your elbows, or completely lift your hands off the ground while in the up position, that repetition will not count. An altered, front-leaning rest position is the only authorized rest position. That is, you may sag in the middle or flex your back. When flexing your back, you may bend your knees, but not to such an extent that you are supporting most of your body weight with your legs. If this occurs, your performance will be terminated. You must return to, and pause in, the up position before continuing. If you rest on the ground your performance will be terminated. You may reposition your feet during the event as long as they remain in contact with the ground at all times. The correct performance is important. You will have one minute in which to do as many push-ups as you can.

Butterfly Situp (BSU)

At the command “Get Ready” sit on your buttocks with your back in the vertical position. The vertical position means that the base of your neck is above the base of your spine with your knees open and the bottom (soles) of your feet together and your hands resting on your feet.

On the command “GO” keeping your knees open and the bottom of your feet together, lie back on the ground extending your arms overhead and touch the ground behind your head, then immediately sit up and reach your hands toward your feet and touch them. While sitting up, your feet can separate, but no more than 12 inches and must be together prior to sitting back. The repetition will not count if you fail to extend your arms behind your head and touch the ground, reach the vertical position and touch your feet with your hands. The up position is the only authorized rest position, your hands can rest on your feet but cannot grab them. If you hold on to your feet or stop and rest in the down position, the event will be terminated. as long as you make a continuous physical effort to sit up, the event will not be terminated. You may not use your hands or any other means to pull or push yourself up. If you do so, your performance in the event will be terminated. The correct performance is important. You will have one minute to perform as many sit-ups as you can.

Sandbag Squat Cleans (SSC)

At the command “Get Ready” place the sandbag at your feet with the handles facing up and grip either the parallel or horizontal handles.

At the command “GO” clean the sandbag into the catch position on your chest and simultaneously move into the squat position passing the 90 degrees with your thighs. You must pass the 90 degrees before you stand and return to a fully erect position with the sandbag in the catch position. This counts as one repetition. You can control or drop the sandbag to the floor to start the next repetition. The sandbag must be on the ground prior to the start of each repetition. The repetition will not count if you fail to reach the standing position. You can rest with the sandbag in the standing catch position or with the sandbag at your feet. You will have one minute to perform as many SSC as you can.

Final Thoughts

These are not going to be the easiest standards to hit which is why I’m glad GORUCK released them now as opposed to later. None of these exercises have been seen in GORUCK PT tests of past which makes them even more interesting. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these in the comments because I’m sure they are not what people were expecting to see for the PT standards. GORUCK Team Assessment sounds like it will be a very fun event (to watch) this year.