title: Performance of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test by elite professional and semiprofessional rugby league players.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of elite rugby league players by using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Fifty players were recruited to the study during preseason and were classified as professional (P) or semiprofessional (SP). All performed the level 1 Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Total distance achieved was taken as the performance index. Physiological (heart rate and blood lactate) correlates of performance were also assessed. Results showed that P players achieved a greater total distance than did SP players (p > 0.05). End heart rates did not differ significantly (p < 0.05). Semiprofessional players had significantly lower end blood lactate values than did P players (p < 0.05). Relationships between test performance and physiological variables were not significant (p > 0.05). These findings showed that P and SP players performed the test at a comparable level. Physiological indices indicated that performance was near maximal. The test is considered a useful measure of intermittent high-intensity performance for rugby league players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England. SAtkins@uclan.ac.uk
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Atkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid