Aerobic fitness testing in 6- to 9-year-old children: reliability and validity of a modified Yo–Yo IR1 test and the Andersen test

Abstract

This study analysed the reliability and validity of two intermittent running tests (the Yo-Yo IR1 test and the Andersen test) as tools for estimating VO(2max) in children under the age of 10. Two groups, aged 6-7 years (grade 0, n = 18) and 8-9 years (grade 2, n = 16), carried out two repetitions of a modified Yo-Yo IR1 test (2 × 16 m) and the Andersen test, as well as an incremental treadmill test, to directly determine the VO(2max). No significant differences were observed in test-retest performance of the Yo-Yo IR1 test [693 ± 418 (±SD) and 670 ± 328 m, r (2) = 0.79, CV = 19%, p > 0.05, n = 32) and the Andersen test (988 ± 77 and 989 ± 87 m, r (2) = 0.86, CV = 3%, p > 0.05, n = 31). The Yo-Yo IR1 (r (2) = 0.47, n = 31, p < 0.002) and Andersen test performance (r (2) = 0.53, n = 32, p < 0.001) correlated with the VO(2max). Yo-Yo IR1 performance correlated with Andersen test performance (r (2) = 0.74, n = 32, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, the Yo-Yo IR1 and the Andersen tests are reproducible and can be used as an indicator of aerobic fitness for 6- to 9-year-old children.

Reliability and validity of the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 in young soccer players

“…However, the CV in the present U17 age group (CV = 7.9%) is similar with those reported in the latter two studies. Though, the present results in the U13 and U15 age group are lower than the testretest CV of the modified Yo-Yo IR1 test (2 × 16 m) in 35 young school children aged 6-9 years (CV = 19%), which was found highly reproducible (Ahler, Bendiksen, Krustrup, & Wedderkopp, 2012). This is in part due to the fact that the absolute running distances are shorter in the youngest age groups (U13 and U15) compared with the oldest (U17) ( Table III).…”

Characteristics of high-level youth soccer players: variation by playing position

“…Participants were instructed to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 48 h before the test sessions and to consume their normal pretraining diet before the test session. The Yo-Yo IR1 has proven to be reliable by others (Ahler, Bendiksen, Krustrup, & Wedderkopp, 2012;Krustrup et al, 2003;Thomas, Dawson, & Goodman, 2006). Furthermore, speed performances were measured through four maximal sprints of 30 m with split times at 5 m and 30 m, with the fastest 5 m and the fastest 30 m used for analysis in order to ensure a maximal value.…”

Motor Performance as Predictor of Physical Activity in Children

“…The Andersen test and hand grip test have been shown to be valid in child populations (2,4,12,40). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of test-retest reliability for the FMP tests ranged between 0.81 and 0.98 (40).…”

“…The chosen tests are all maximal performance tests with satisfactory reproducibility and validity in child populations (2,40). Furthermore, the study had a large sample size.…”

“…The Andersen test. This is a test of cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as the number of meters run in an intermittent shuttle run test (2).…”