The 6th Congress of Exercise and Sport Sciences

A Unique Aerobic Field Test to Estimate V02max for Basketball Players: Validity and Reliability

Roni Gottlieb 1 Julio Gonzales 2
1The Academic College at Wingate, Netanya, Israel
2Basque University, Leioa, Biscay, Spain

Ball games in general, and basketball in particular, are characterized by carrying out short and intense activity at a medium to high frequency (Meckel, 2009). This type of activity requires the development of aerobic and anaerobic capabilities, which are imperative to anaerobic ability, but are also significant for the development of aerobic capacity (Meckel, 2009). It is recommended that better aerobic capacity is important to a player`s performance in games and practices (Castagna et. al 2008).

The requirement for field testing by professionals is growing, because of its importance and necessity in evaluating and measuring a pre-planned player`s training program. This study determined the validity and reliability of a new specific field test that could optimally predict V02max for a basketball player.

Twenty-one basketballers participated in this study (age:16.4±0.5 years; height: 180±5.5 cm; body mass: 72 ±4.9 kg; fat % 10.8±1.9 %; 8-year experience in basketball), belonging to a group of elite youth league in Israel. Their daily routine consists of 5 basketball practices, 2 fitness practices and 1 weekly league game.
Participants performed four tests including three field tests and one laboratory test, in increments, within three days of each other, and avoided strenuous activity for at least 24 hours before the test.

The tests that were conducted included: maximum oxygen consumption, Yo-yo endurance test (YYEND), Yo-yo recovery level 1 test (YYREC1), and new basketball specific test (YYRECB). Test–retest results showed the YYRECB to be reliable. Heart rate (HRMAX), distance at the end of the tests, the final time taken for each test and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) did not display a difference between the test and the retest (All Variables; r=0.971). Significant correlations were found between VO2max (mL · kg−1 · min−1) and YYRECB (r = 0.769, 95% CI; p.0001). There also was a significant difference between YYRECB measured distance to YYREC1 and YYEND (r =0.748, r =0.723, respectively; 95% CI; p.0001). A high correlation was found of 55 ml/kg/min (Bland Altman, mean=0: complete agreement between YYRECB and VO2max. CI 95% -1:+1, CI mean -3.5:+3.5). This study showed that the new version of the Yo-Yo (YYRECB) test, with effort patterns replicating real basketball sessions, can be considered a valid and reliable basketball-specific field test for assessing basketball players` endurance fitness. The target of VO2max in basketball for sufficient aerobic capacity is around 55 ml/kg/min, so the players that reach 1600 meters can stop the test but need to keep this aerobic conditioning in basketball practice. In addition, to reach the target, it takes less time, which is a big advantage to the players and the demands of the test.

Roni Gottlieb
Roni Gottlieb
wingate institute
Teacher in wingate institute Strength and conditioning coach , Israeli national soccer team








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