A pilot study comparing two field tests with the treadmill run test in soccer players

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Soccer Performance Analysis

Background:

• Evaluating soccer players' aerobic fitness is crucial for performance.
• Field-based tests like the 20m multistage shuttle run test (MST) and Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test (YIET) are commonly used.
• The relationship between these tests and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) requires further investigation in young soccer players.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of young soccer players in the MST and YIET.
• To examine the correlation between field test performance and measured VO2max from both field tests and a traditional treadmill test (TRT).
• To determine the most suitable field test for assessing intermittent endurance in soccer.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one youth national-level soccer players participated.
• Players performed the MST and YIET in random order.
• A subset of eight players underwent these field tests plus a TRT, with ambulatory gas exchange measurement for VO2max.

Main Results:

• Performance (distance covered) in MST and YIET were correlated (r = 0.65, p < 0.01).
• YIET performance showed no significant correlation with VO2max from any test (YIET, MST, or TRT).
• MST performance correlated significantly with VO2max from the MST and YIET, and almost significantly with TRT VO2max.

Conclusions:

• Measured VO2max alone may not adequately characterize soccer players' intermittent endurance.
• The YIET appears to be a more favorable field-based assessment of soccer players' endurance performance compared to the MST.
• Both tests are valid measures of aerobic exertion, but YIET may offer a more nuanced view of intermittent capacity.