Relationships Between the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test and Anaerobic Performance Tests in Adolescent Handball Players

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between a performance index derived from the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) and other measures of physical performance and skill in handball players. The other measures considered included peak muscular power of the lower limbs (Wpeak), jumping ability (squat and counter-movement jumps (SJ, CMJ), a handball skill test and the average sprinting velocities over the first step (VS) and the first 5 m (V5m). Test scores for 25 male national-level adolescent players (age: 17.2 ± 0.7 years) averaged 4.83 ± 0.34 m·s−1 (maximal velocity reached at the Yo-Yo IR1); 917 ± 105 Watt, 12.7 ± 3 W·kg−1 (Wpeak); 3.41 ± 0.5 m·s−1 and 6.03 ± 0.6 m·s−1 (sprint velocities for Vs and V5m respectively) and 10.3 ± 1 s (handball skill test). Yo-Yo IR1 test scores showed statistically significant correlations with all of the variables examined: Wpeak (W and W·kg−1) r = 0.80 and 0.65, respectively, p≤0.001); sprinting velocities (r = 0.73 and 0.71 for VS and V5m respectively; p≤0.001); jumping performance (SJ: r = 0.60, p≤0.001; CMJ: r= 0.66, p≤0.001) and the handball skill test (r = 0.71; p≤0.001). We concluded that the Yo-Yo test score showed a sufficient correlation with other potential means of assessing handball players, and that intra-individual changes of Yo-Yo IR1 score could provide a useful composite index of the response to training or rehabilitation, although correlations lack sufficient precision to help in players’ selection.

Changes of strength and maximum power of lower extremities in adolescent handball players during a two-year training cycle

“…Our results are in agreement with those reported by Norkowski (2002) for the best Polish handball players from junior and cadet categories. On the other hand, Tunisian athletes representing the national level at the age of 17.2 years ( Hermasi, 2015 ) and players from the Greek handball league ( Nikolaidis and Ingebrigtsen, 2013 ) achieved greater power values than athletes tested in our study. However, it should be noted that there were differences in the methodology applied in those studies.…”

“…Anaerobic capabilities of handball players are often assessed in repeated sprint capabilities based on running tests and/or cycloergometer tests ( Chittibabu, 2014 ; Gharbi et al, 2015 ; Hermassi et al, 2015 ; Nikolaidis and Ingebrigtsen, 2013 ). It is suggested that there is a relationship between the results of the RSA test and sport results in team games, including handball ( Gharbi et al, 2015 ).…”

The Yo-Yo IR2 test in professional basketball players

“…The result of the present study is different from above-mentioned studies. Hermassi et al (2015) recommended that correlations between physiological estimation of anaerobic tolerance such as anaerobic threshold and blood lactate level and YIRT2 should be examined. We questioned the correlation between VO 2AT (ml/kg/min), HR AT (bpm) which are important components of endurance and YIRT2.…”

Physical fitness of amateur paddle players: comparisons between different competitive levels

“…However, as shown in the last panel ( figure 3, panel D), the women did not present a significant correlation (r = 0.01), and the distance reached by them may have been insufficient to reach HRmax, and this can be explained by the fact that most have never performed maximal aerobic efforts. The relationship between performance in YOYOIRL1 and HAST may result from greater muscle aptitude, given the difference in energy substrates from the tests performed (Hermassi et al, 2014). There was also a significant correlation between HAST and vertical jump, which can be explained by the fact that the shortest time reached in agility tests is related to better performance in the power test, probably due to the similarity in the physical demands for the tests, especially for the elongation-shortening cycle (Picanço, Silva, & Del Vecchio, 2012).…”