What it measures
Intermittent high-intensity running capacity. More sport-specific than continuous tests for soccer, rugby, field hockey, and basketball. Correlates well with VO2max but adds the recovery component that matters for team sport.
Equipment
- Two cone-marked lines 20 m apart
- A third line 5 m behind the start line (for the recovery zone)
- Audio recording with the official Yo-Yo IR1 cadence (available free online)
- Speaker loud enough to be heard across the course
Protocol
- Athletes line up at the start line. The audio cadence dictates speed.
- On each beep, athletes run 20 m to the far line, turn, run 20 m back to the start — completing a 2×20 m shuttle.
- Between shuttles, athletes jog 5 m forward and back during the 10-second recovery period.
- Speed increases incrementally as the test progresses.
- Athletes who fail to reach the line in time twice are voided. Test continues until the last athlete is out.
Scoring
Total distance covered (m). Performance House also records the last completed level for compatibility with research literature.
Typical ranges
Elite male soccer (international): 2,400–3,200 m. NCAA male soccer: 1,800–2,400 m. NCAA women's soccer: 1,200–1,800 m. High-school field-sport athletes: 600–1,500 m.
Practical notes
- The Yo-Yo IR2 is a more intense variant starting at higher speeds — better for elite athletes who max out the IR1.
References
- Bangsbo J, Iaia FM, Krustrup P (2008). The Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test: A useful tool for evaluation of physical performance in intermittent sports. Sports Medicine.
Use this test in Performance House
Performance House supports Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 as a built-in test metric — log results from any device, see longitudinal trends, and contribute the result to the athlete's Performance Index automatically. Free for up to 5 athletes on the Starter plan.
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