Yo-Yo Test Versions
There are six variations of the yo-yo fitness test (three versions, each with two different levels), each of which focuses on different aspects of physical performance and targets different fitness levels. The most commonly used test out of these six is the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1, also called YYIR1, YYIRT1, YYIR-L1 or something like that. This is the intermittent recovery test that most people will mean when they talk about the yo-yo test, and that is the version that most teams will be using for testing their athletes. If you are unsure which test you did, read this.
Not only are there the six official yo-yo test versions as created by Jens Bangsbo, there are many modifications of the yo-yo test, and alternatives to the yo-yo test that measure similar aspects of fitness.
There Are Six Tests
Firstly there are the Yo-Yo Endurance Tests, where participants run continuously between markers 20 meters apart. There are two levels of this test: Level 1 is essentially the same as the beep test, while Level 2 starts at a faster speed and is for fitter athletes. Although the beep test is occasionally incorrectly referred to as the yo-yo test, this continuous running version is not usually what they mean.
For the Yo-Yo Intermittent Test, there are two versions (endurance or recovery), in both versions the participants have a short active recovery break after each 40m run, either a 5-second or 10-second break. Just to confuse us even more, for each of these there is a beginner Level 1 and more advanced Level 2 version, with different starting speeds. See our discussion about whether you should use level 1 or level 2. See a general description of how to conduct the Yo-Yo Intermittent Test.
Summary of Yo-Yo Test Versions
- Yo-Yo Endurance Test Level 1, running continuously between markers 20 meters apart, starting at 8 km/hr. (see procedure)
- Yo-Yo Endurance Test Level 2, running continuously between markers 20 meters apart, starting at 11.5 km/hr. (see procedure)
- Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test, Level 1 - 5 second active break between each 40m run, starting at 8 km/hr. (see procedure)
- Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test, Level 2 - 5 second active break between each 40m run, starting at 11.5 km/hr. (see procedure)
- Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, Level 1 - 10 second active break between each 40m run, starting at 10 km/hr (see procedure). The is the most commonly used Yo-Yo test version.
- Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, Level 2 - 10 second active break between each 40m run, starting at 13 km/hr (see procedure)
More Resources
- How to determine which version of the yo-yo test you did
- Should you do Level 1 or Level 2 Yo-Yo Test?
- Modifications of the yo-yo test
- Alternatives to the yo-yo test
- Comparing the beep and yo-yo tests
- List of information pages
- Buy the Yo-Yo Test Package of all 6 tests
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