Modified Pushups and Women

[Metermaid]

For those hiring agencies/LE academies that have pushups as part of their physical fitness agenda, are women allowed to do modified pushups (knees touching the ground vs. full pushups)?

I can't do regular unmodified pushups for the life of me, and I was just wondering if this is something I'm going to have to worry about.

[acreature]

No.

Hands are shoulder width apart.

Down til your chin is 4 inches/standing fist from the ground.

Full extension, elbows locked straight.

From head to heel, straight unbent body.

[Titansfanmjfink]

Hiring standards in Ohio (and several other states that use Cooper Standards) don't allow for modified pushups until a woman reaches 60 years of age... so in other words... no.

You just need to increase your upper body strength. Go to the gym, start with light weights and work on your arms chest and back. Then once you can do a few pushups the right way, do them at least every other day (as many as you can). And believe me, you'll see a big increase. In my academy we worked with a female who at start could do 2 pushups and at the final PT test she did 41 in a minute.

[Citicop]

For those hiring agencies/LE academies that have pushups as part of their physical fitness agenda, are women allowed to do modified pushups (knees touching the ground vs. full pushups)?

I can't do regular unmodified pushups for the life of me, and I was just wondering if this is something I'm going to have to worry about.

:rolleyes:

I don't mean to sound rude, but were you anticipating only responding to "modified criminal" calls, where the criminals are only half as strong as regular criminals? There is no mercy on the streets, and if you don't have the minimum strength to pass the physical standards, then I simply don't want you backing me up on a call.

You will be able to pass the tests with some effort, so get to they gym and good luck!

Citicop.

[mcsap]

We have standards based upon the persons age and sex but beyond that , there are no mods allowed.

[seeking]

I'm glad to hear that because, even as a women and a tiny one at that, I wouldn't want to be held to a different standard than the guys.

Metermaid, a little over a week ago, I could only do about four pushups before having to stop. I started actually trying to do them knowing if I pursue law enforcement I am going to need much more upper body strength than my measly 115 pound frame has right now. I've done as many as I could at least once a day and then other exercises and doing some more at the end of exercising. At the end of a week I was able to do about 25 without stopping. That's only half as good as I'll likely have to be able to do depending on the department (and I definitely need to also start using weights), but that's still twice as good as none at all.

If you believe you can't do something you're already defeated. Get down on the floor and do as many correct pushups as you can, even if that's one. Go do something else for awhile, and later in the day, try it again. Keep doing that, and eventually you'll be that girl who went from being able to do 2 to doing 41 in a minute.

[greenlead]

I just did a physical agility test a couple of weeks ago. Females did standard push-ups.

[North Patrol]

You're expected to do the same job so you should have to meet the same standards!

At FLETC we had a female file a complaint because the 6 foot wall was hard for her to get over. She claimed that the way a women is built it makes it harder for them to climb. So guess what the academy did, they angled the wall. That's complete and utter BS! :mad:

What is she going to do, have them tilt all of the walls in her patrol area?

[Taxx]

In my experience, men struggle with sit-ups and women struggle with pushups. So, I guess you wouldn't expect to allow a woman to do an easier pushup if you wouldn't allow a man to do an easier situp. The test has standards that have to be met regardless of gender. If you allow someone to do the test outside of its standards how could you argue equal treatment, pay and benefits?

[bluelightzgrl]

What is she going to do, have them tilt all of the walls in her patrol area?

Send her packin! That would be my answer. :mad:

For those hiring agencies/LE academies that have pushups as part of their physical fitness agenda, are women allowed to do modified pushups (knees touching the ground vs. full pushups)?

I can't do regular unmodified pushups for the life of me, and I was just wondering if this is something I'm going to have to worry about.

Metermaid,

I will say what some of the rest of these guys and I do mean the men on here are being to gentle to say. If you can not do a "standard" push-up, you have one of two choices. One, learn how. Or two, find a different line of work. If you want a job as a cop, you better be able to compete against them -the men. Personally, I hate the sex standard. I don't give a rat's a$$ how small or how petite you are. Yes, I understand especially when it comes to the bench press, that the vast majority of women will never be able to make a male's minimum. But when it comes to push-ups, sit-ups and a lot of run time standards there is zero room for excuse. To further my point, when I aim for a fitness test (and not the BS one my department gives) I don't look at the women's standards. I look at the men's, and I train for those. Why? Because a crook isn't going to take it easier on you because you are a woman, because you are having a bad day or because your 4 year old didn't sleep last night. You don’t like it? Tough… no one said this was a popularity contest. It’s about who is going to be able to do the job the best. The days of the fat muffin-top cop sittin in your local donut shop is over.

[Metermaid]

Wow, guys... thanks for answering my question.

I found this in a CT state trooper testing regimen:

"STATION 3: One Minute Push-up Test: This test measures muscular endurance of the chest, upper arms and shoulder muscles (upper body dynamic strength). The test involves the performance of as many push-ups as an applicant can properly complete in a one-minute period. (Female applicants are permitted to do modified push-ups.) Applicants begin the event in the down position with hands placed next to the shoulders. Arms must be fully extended in the up position and the chest, stomach and thighs must be off the floor in the down position. Applicants may rest only in the up position."

I guess I was just curious about this. Please excuse me.

I've always found pushups to be difficult. I go to the gym and work my b_tt off everyday. I've improved over a 100% from when I started training towards my goals. As a human being I except that there are some things that I'm not awesome at, but I continue to work at what I need to in order to get to where I want to be. Some of people have to work much harder than others and I have a long way to go.

For those of you who answered and gave some brief encouragement, I thank you. For those of you who took this question personally, I apologize.

[Citicop]

Meter-

I don't think that anyone took this question personally. No one here dislikes you, and I hope you work hard, meet the standards, and get hired.

But I did want to make sure that you understand that if you get hired, one of us may need to rely on you to save our rear ends in a fight someday. If that happens, I don't want the "girl who got through by doing modified pushups" there, I want the "girl who spent two hours a day at the gym and can bench press her own bodyweight ten times" there.

Good Luck-

Citicop.

[bluelightzgrl]

As a human being I except that there are some things that I'm not awesome at, but I continue to work at what I need to in order to get to where I want to be. Some of people have to work much harder than others and I have a long way to go.

That right there is the perfect attitude to have. :cool:

[The13ig13adWolf]

:rolleyes:

I don't mean to sound rude, but were you anticipating only responding to "modified criminal" calls, where the criminals are only half as strong as regular criminals? There is no mercy on the streets, and if you don't have the minimum strength to pass the physical standards, then I simply don't want you backing me up on a call.

You will be able to pass the tests with some effort, so get to they gym and good luck!

Citicop.

What he said.

[CityOfChicago]

meter-

but i did want to make sure that you understand that if you get hired, one of us may need to rely on you to save our rear ends in a fight someday. If that happens, i don't want the "girl who got through by doing modified pushups" there, i want the "girl who spent two hours a day at the gym and can bench press her own bodyweight ten times" there.

Citicop.

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