Abstract
This study compared the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (YYIR 1) and Bronco tests among amateur rugby referees and examined whether the results of these tests were associated with actual match demands. Sixty-seven (65 male, 2 female; 30 ± 11 years; 77.4 ± 13.1 kg; 175 ± 8 cm) amateur rugby referees participated. Match demands were assessed using Global Navigation Satellite System technology and heart rate (HR) recordings. Significant correlations (all p < 0.05) were found between the YYIR 1 and Bronco test results (r: −0.88). The YYIR 1 test was significantly correlated with match demands including total (r: 0.56) and high-intensity (r: 0.70) distance covered, maximal speed reached (r: 0.73), and the number of high-intensity accelerations (r: 0.54) and sprints (r: 0.68) completed. Furthermore, YYIR 1 test maximum HR was significantly correlated with maximum HR (r: 0.72), average HR (r: 0.54), and internal load (r: 0.55) during match play. In contrast, the Bronco test was only significantly correlated with match demands including maximal speed reached (r: −0.68) and the number of high-intensity accelerations (r: −0.61). Moreover, Bronco test maximum HR was significantly correlated with maximal (r: 0.84) and average HR (r: 0.73) during match play. The results suggest that while the YYIR 1 and Bronco tests might both be efficient tools to guide training prescription, the YYIR 1 test might be as the more valuable test to assess match fitness in rugby referees.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 67-77 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 19 Apr 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Feb 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors would like to thank the referees who took part. Further, we would like to thank the Western Province Referees Society, SARefs Academy, and Linston Manuels for allowing access to the referees. Also, the authors would like to thank STATSports for providing the GNSS units. Finally, the authors would like to thank Stephanie Kruger, Tayla Van Heerden, Hannah Bevis, Joshua Schenck, and Cameron Donkin for their help during the data collection. The authors report no conflicts of interest This study was partially supported by a Santander Mobility Award given to the lead author. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Keywords
- Acceleration, global navigation tracking, heart rate, intermittent exercise, sports officials, sprints
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)