The NS Combine: How Your Fitness Is Measured

The NS Combine is Network School's standardized fitness assessment. Inspired by the NFL Combine, it measures multiple dimensions of physical fitness through a series of tests. The Combine provides a baseline measurement when you arrive and a comparison point when you leave, allowing you to quantify your physical progress during your time at NS. Results are tracked and can be compared against the community, adding a competitive element that motivates many members. The Combine is not a pass-fail test. It is a measurement tool that meets you where you are and shows you where you can improve.

The NS Combine typically includes tests for cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility. Specific tests may include timed runs, maximum push-ups or pull-ups in a set time, plank holds, squat assessments, and flexibility measurements. The exact battery of tests may evolve over time as the program refines its approach. Each test is scored on a standardized scale, and your aggregate score gives you an overall fitness rating. The tests are designed to be accessible to all fitness levels while still challenging for advanced athletes.

Your Combine results serve multiple purposes. They give you personal data on your fitness, helping you identify strengths and areas for improvement. They provide a motivational target, as many members aim to improve their scores during their stay. The community leaderboard creates friendly competition, and members often celebrate each other's improvements. The data also helps NS track the effectiveness of its fitness programming and nutrition over time. Some members use their Combine results as part of their broader health tracking alongside blood work, body composition scans, and other metrics.

You do not need to prepare specifically for the NS Combine. It is designed to assess your current fitness level, not to be a high-stakes test you need to train for. That said, if you want to start in better shape, begin a basic exercise routine before arriving that includes cardiovascular work, bodyweight strength exercises, and stretching. Do not let anxiety about the Combine prevent you from joining. Members at every fitness level participate, and the community celebrates improvement rather than absolute performance. You can apply at ns.com and take the Combine within your first week of arrival.