Sub-maximal and maximal Yo–Yo intermittent endurance test level 2: heart rate response, reproducibility and application to elite soccer

Abstract

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the reproducibility of sub-maximal and maximal versions of the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test level 2 (Yo-Yo IE2 test), (2) assess the relationship between the Yo-Yo IE2 test and match performance and (3) quantify the sensitivity of the Yo-Yo IE2 test to detect test-retest changes and discriminate between performance for different playing standards and positions in elite soccer. Elite (n = 148) and sub-elite male (n = 14) soccer players carried out the Yo-Yo IE2 test on several occasions over consecutive seasons. Test-retest coefficient of variation (CV) in Yo-Yo IE2 test performance and heart rate after 6 min were 3.9% (n = 37) and 1.4% (n = 32), respectively. Elite male senior and youth U19 players Yo-Yo IE2 performances were better (P < 0.01) than elite youth U16s and sub-elite players (2,603 ± 451 and 2,534 ± 549 vs. 1,855 ± 535 vs. 1,749 ± 382 m). The intra- and inter-season CV for Yo-Yo IE2 test performance were 4.2 and 5.6%, respectively. A correlation was observed (P < 0.05) between Yo-Yo IE2 test performance and the total (r = 0.74) and high-intensity (r = 0.58) running distance covered in a match. A correlation was also evident (P < 0.01) between Yo-Yo IE2 test heart rate after 6 min expressed in percentage of maximal heart rate and the peak values for high-intensity running performed by midfielders in 5-min (r = -0.71), 15-min (r = -0.75) and 45-min periods (r = -0.77). The present data demonstrate that the Yo-Yo IE2 test is reproducible and can be used to determine the capacity of elite soccer players to perform intense intermittent exercise. Furthermore, the Yo-Yo IE2 test was shown to be a sensitive tool that not only relates to match performance but can also differentiate between intermittent exercise performance of players in various standards, stages of the season and playing positions.

The reliability of the submaximal version of the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test in elite youth soccer

“…Heart rate at submaximal intensities is sensitive to changes in maximal performance, and therefore such non-exhaustive testing may be a useful and reliable fitness monitoring tool 9 , especially in season. The findings of the current study identified that the Yo-Yo IR1-sub is reliable assessment method in young elite soccer players, with absolute heart rate at cessation of the 6 minute test (HR6) highlighted as the most reliable metric (ICC = 0.96) ( Table 1).…”

“…8 The Yo-Yo IR1 and Yo-Yo IE2 tests have starting speeds of 10 km.h -1 and 11.5 km.h -1 respectively, with a view of shortening total assessment time, when compared to the slower starting speed (8 km.h -1 ) of the Yo-Yo IE1. The difference in starting speeds between tests result in a broad range of distances covered and total work time, ranging from 2564 ± 554 m during the Yo-Yo IE2, 9 therefore it is difficult to directly compare results due to the methodology applied. Following each 2 × 20 m shuttle, these tests have a rest period of 10 s and 5 s respectively.…”

“…9 With the recent literature surrounding training load and injury risk in elite soccer, 14 a typical Yo-Yo IR1 benchmark of 2300 m 15 is a considerable distance, supplementary to the training load of a normal training week. As opposed to administering the Yo-Yo IR1, a more efficient, submaximal version has been utilised; the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test -submaximal (Yo-Yo IR1-sub).…”

“…Non-exhaustive testing is a useful monitoring tool, particularly in-season when physical demands are high or frequent testing is required. 9 In addition, with the test lasting a total of 6 min, with a total of 720 m covered, between player comparisons can be made for the same absolute workload.…”

The reliability, validity and sensitivity of a novel soccer-specific reactive repeated-sprint test (RRST)

“…Large to very large correlations were found between RRST performance vs high-intensity running in the most intense period (r = -0.55-0.74) and during a match (r = -0.55-0.67) for two elite U18 squads playing in the English Premier League and Football League, and one sub-elite U18 squad, respectively. High-intensity running has been shown to have great importance for performance in soccer due to differences between performance level and playing positions (Bradley et al 2009(Bradley et al , 2010Mohr et al 2003), and has been used to validate tests (Bradley et al 2011;Impellizzeri et al 2008;Rampinini et al 2007). However, it has been suggested that rolling, rather than predefined, periods are used when determining specific match intervals because of improved accuracy and a clearer representation of high-intensity distance covered (Varley et al 2012a).…”