Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the Yo-Yo In-termittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIR1) in assessing or estimating maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) among female soccer players when compared to a maximal laboratory treadmill test (LTT). Eighteen female soccer players of the 2nd German National League completed a YYIR1 and a LTT on different days separated by one week. Players VO2max was 1) measured during both tests using a portable spirometry system (MetaMax3B, CORTEX Biophysik), 2) estimated from their distance covered in YYIR1 using the formula suggested by Bangsbo et al. (2008) (YYIR1-F1) and 3) estimated from an own developed formula specific for female players (YYIR1-F2) in accordance with Bangsbo et al. (2008). This formula was derived from the correlation between total distance covered in YYIR1 und measured VO2max in LTT. The YYIR1 significantly underestimated VO2max among female soccer players compared to LTT (gold standard). Up to 9 percent or 18 percent underestimation (not sufficient validity) resulted when player’s VO2max was directly assessed by portable spirometry in YYIR1 or indirectly estimated from Bangsbo’s formula (YYIR1-F1), respective-y. The estimation formula derived from the authors' own data (YYIR1-F2) specific for female soccer players yielded closer results to the real VO2max values obtained in LTT. However, further investigations with a larger sample size should verify these findings. Verf.-Referat (geändert)