Purpose To compare the standard Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) test and an agility Yo-Yo IR test with a higher number of change-of-direction movements to cardiorespiratory match performance. Methods The study included 11 professional male handball players (age 24.5 [4.6] y) of a German second-league team. The performance parameters of the players of the seasons 2016-17 to 2018-19 were analyzed. The Yo-Yo IR test was compared to a Yo-Yo IR test with multiple multidirectional changes of direction in response to visual stimuli, which was conducted on a SpeedCourt (Yo-Yo SC IR). Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and maximum heart rate (HRmax) were measured. Between-methods differences of individual athletes were quantified with Bland-Altman plots. Results HRmax was not statistically different during the Yo-Yo SC IR test compared to the Yo-Yo IR test (181 [10] vs 188 [8] beats·min-1; P = .16). Agreement between the 2 tests was moderate for HRmax and good for heart rates >180 beats·min-1. Mean average VO2peak was 51.7 (3.9) and 50.9 (2.8) mL·min-1·kg-1 for the Yo-Yo SC IR test and the Yo-Yo IR test (P = .693), respectively. Conclusions A Yo-Yo test with multidirectional changes of direction in response to visual stimuli yielded good agreement with the frequently used linear running tests and can be used to assess players` VO2peak. The HRmax achieved during this test should be used with caution.
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