What is YoYo Test In Cricket? – New Fitness Rules, Qualification

New YO-YO Tests for Indian cricketers
New YO-YO Tests for Indian cricketers

A YoYo Test is a modified version of the Beep Test or Lager Test where a 10 seconds break is introduced after every shuttle before a player starts to run for the next shuttle.

Like many other tests of fitness, it involves running at ever-increasing speeds, to exhaustion. However, a crucial difference is that the YoYo Intermittent test has periodic rest intervals, thus simulating the nature of exertion in stop-and-go sports.

Post the BCCI’s review meeting on January 1, 2023, BCCI confirms that the Yo-Yo Test and Dexa will be a part of the selection criteria.

What is YoYo Test In Cricket?

In cricket, players sprint between the wickets while batting, behind the ball while fielding, towards the stumps while bowling and then there is a break of a few seconds before the next event happens. This is exactly why the Yo-Yo test is done with the 10 seconds break.

Modified YoYo Test

The new updated yo-yo test involves shuttling over a 20-meter distance at increasing speeds, the two-kilometers time trial has to be accomplished in 8 minutes and 15 seconds for fast bowlers, and 8 minutes and 30 seconds for the rest.

What is Shuttle in YoYo Test?

A Shuttle is a basic unit in the YoYo test. The test is conducted using two cones that are placed 20 meters, roughly the length of a cricket pitch, apart from each other on a flat ground.

Yo-Yo test track
Yo-Yo test track

A player begins the shuttle from Position A (as showcased in the image above) on the first beep and has to reach the cone at Position B before the second beep. Then, the player turns around and starts running back to the cone at position A i.e. the starting point, and has to reach there before the third beep.

Basically, a shuttle is when a player covers 40 meters between the two cones placed 20 meters apart, to and fro, within three beeps. As the levels increase, the time between the beeps reduce. Meaning, the individual has to run gradually faster to cover the 40-meter distance to clear the level.

The 40-meter distance of every shuttle is gradually accumulated over the different levels in the period of a complete yo-yo test.

What are the types of YoYo Tests?

There are four versions of the Yo-Yo Intermittent test:

  • Recovery Level 1 (YoYo IR1). This is the most popular version focusing “on the capacity to carry out intermittent exercise leading to a maximal activation of the aerobic system”.
  • Recovery Level 2 (YoYo IR2). This is a tougher version of “Recovery Level 1”. It “determines an individual’s ability to recover from repeated exercise with a high contribution from the anaerobic system”.
  • Endurance Level 1 (YoYo IE1). This may be used to test participants in less vigorous sports that usually last longer.
  • Endurance Level 2 (YoYo IE2). This is a tougher version of “Endurance Level 1”.

YoYo Test Procedure

The setup for all 4 versions is identical. Prior to the test commencing, runners line up at position A, facing Position B.

For a detailed understanding check the “Yo-Yo test track” image posted above:

  • Following a countdown, a double beep signals the start.
  • Runners commence running towards the B.
  • At or before the following beep, runners must reach the B. Touching with a single foot is acceptable
  • At or after, but not before, the same beep, runners commence running back to the A.
  • At or before the next beep, runners must reach back to the A
  • The rest period now commences 10 seconds in the Recovery tests, and 5 seconds in the Endurance tests.
  • Runners stroll to the C, then return to the A
  • A beep indicates the end of the rest period and the start of the next circuit (back to Step 1).

After a predetermined number of circuits at a speed level (which varies with each version of the test), the speed level changes. This is signaled, usually, by a double beep or, possibly, a voice cue. The required speed at the new speed level will be faster.

YoYo Test Scoring Method

YoYo Test Scoring Method is usually graded in two systems. Following are the details of the YoYo Test Scoring Method:

Circuits “terminology” – for example, if a player scored 17.1 it will indicate that the player have “completed 1 circuit at level 17”.

Scores may be recorded as distance – for example, 1940 meters.

The two methods correlate exactly, meaning that given one, it is possible to determine the other.

Recovery Level 1 (YoYo IR1)

Note: A circuit consists of running two shuttles followed by a 10 second rest period

YoYo IR1 appears to be the most popular test, primarily because it is considered a good indicator of the aerobic capacity of athletes in intermittent sports.

Speed Level Shuttles at Level Running speed
(km/h)
Seconds per Shuttle Seconds at Level Cumulative Time (incl.
recovery)
(mm:ss)
Cumulative Shuttles
Cumulative Distance
5 2 10 7.2 14.4 0:24 2 40
9 2 12 6 12 0:46 4 80
11 4 13 5.54 22.2 1:29 8 160
12 6 13.5 5.33 32 2:31 14 280
13 8 14 5.14 41.1 3:52 22 440
14 16 14.5 4.97 79.4 6:31 38 760
15 16 15 4.8 76.8 9:08 54 1080
16 16 15.5 4.65 74.3 11:42 70 1400
17 16 16 4.5 72 14:14 86 1720
18 16 16.5 4.36 69.8 16:44 102 2040
19 16 17 4.24 67.8 19:12 118 2360
20 16 17.5 4.11 65.8 21:38 134 2680
21 16 18 4 64 24:02:00 150 3000
22 16 18.5 3.89 62.3 26:24:00 166 3320
23 16 19 3.79 60.6 28:45:00 182 3640

Recovery Level 2 (YoYo IR2)

The YoYo IR2 test is usually used to evaluate elite level athletes, specifically aimed at determining the athlete’s ability to perform well in the aerobic and anaerobic spectrum.

Speed Level Shuttles at Level Running speed
(km/h)
Seconds per Shuttle Seconds at Level Cumulative Time (incl.
recovery)
(mm:ss)
Cumulative Shuttles
Cumulative Distance
11 2 13 5.54 11.1 0:21 2 40
15 2 15 4.8 9.6 0:41 4 80
17 4 16 4.5 18 1:19 8 160
18 6 16.5 4.36 26.2 2:15 14 280
19 8 17 4.24 33.9 3:29 22 440
20 16 17.5 4.11 65.8 5:55 38 760
21 16 18 4 64 8:19 54 1080
22 16 18.5 3.89 62.3 10:41 70 1400
23 16 19 3.79 60.6 13:01 86 1720
24 16 19.5 3.69 59.1 15:21 102 2040
25 16 20 3.6 57.6 17:38 118 2360
26 16 20.5 3.51 56.2 19:54 134 2680
27 16 21 3.43 54.9 22:09 150 3000
28 16 21.5 3.35 53.6 24:23:00 166 3320
29 16 22 3.27 52.4 26:35:00 182 3640

Endurance Level 1 (YoYo IE1)

Speed Level
Shuttles at Level Running speed
(km/h)
Seconds per Shuttle Seconds at Level Cumulative Time (incl.
recovery)
(mm:ss)
Cumulative Shuttles
Cumulative Distance
1 4 8 9 36 0:46 4 80
3 4 9 8 32 1:28 8 160
5 4 10 7.2 28.8 2:07 12 240
6 16 10.5 6.86 109.7 4:37 28 560
6.5 16 10.75 6.7 107.2 7:04 44 880
7 16 11 6.55 104.7 9:28 60 1200
7.5 6 11.25 6.4 38.4 10:22 66 1320
8 6 11.5 6.26 37.6 11:14 72 1440
8.5 12 11.75 6.13 73.5 12:58 84 1680
9 12 12 6 72 14:40 96 1920
9.5 12 12.25 5.88 70.5 16:20 108 2160
10 12 12.5 5.76 69.1 18:00 120 2400
10.5 12 12.75 5.65 67.8 19:37 132 2640
11 12 13 5.54 66.5 21:14 144 2880
11.5 12 13.25 5.43 65.2 22:49 156 3120
12 12 13.5 5.33 64 24:23:00 168 3360
12.5 12 13.75 5.24 62.8 25:56:00 180 3600
13 12 14 5.14 61.7 27:28:00 192 3840
13.5 12 14.25 5.05 60.6 28:58:00 204 4080
14 12 14.5 4.97 59.6 30:28:00 216 4320

Endurance Level 2 (YoYo IE2)

Speed Level Shuttles at Level Running speed
(km/h)
Seconds per Shuttle Seconds at Level Cumulative Time (incl.
recovery)
(mm:ss)
Cumulative Shuttles
Cumulative Distance
8 4 11.5 6.26 25 0:35 4 80
10 4 12.5 5.76 23 1:08 8 160
12 4 13.5 5.33 21.3 1:39 12 240
13 16 14 5.14 82.3 3:42 28 560
13.5 16 14.25 5.05 80.8 5:43 44 880
14 16 14.5 4.97 79.4 7:42 60 1200
14.5 6 14.75 4.88 29.3 8:26 66 1320
15 6 15 4.8 28.8 9:10 72 1440
15.5 12 15.25 4.72 56.7 10:37 84 1680
16 12 15.5 4.65 55.7 12:02 96 1920
16.5 12 15.75 4.57 54.9 13:27 108 2160
17 12 16 4.5 54 14:51 120 2400
17.5 12 16.25 4.43 53.2 16:15 132 2640
18 12 16.5 4.36 52.4 17:37 144 2880
18.5 12 16.75 4.3 51.6 18:58 156 3120
19 12 17 4.24 50.8 20:19 168 3360
19.5 12 17.25 4.17 50.1 21:39 180 3600
20 12 17.5 4.11 49.4 22:59 192 3840
20.5 12 17.75 4.06 48.7 24:17:00 204 4080
21 12 18 4 48 25:35:00 216 4320

All table derived from “The YoYo Intermittent Tests: A Systematic Review and Structured Compendium of Test Results”

Who invented the YoYo test?

Danish soccer physiologist Dr Jens Bangsbo introduced the Intermittent Recovery Test (Yo-Yo test) in the 1990s. The test was initially done on footballers to improve their overall fitness and aerobic capacity.

The routine, however, did not follow the template of running long distances. Over a period of time, other sports started embracing the Yo-Yo test.

When was the YoYo test introduced to the Indian cricket team?

Former Indian cricket team’s strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu introduced the Yo-Yo test to the national side ahead of India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2017.