Comparison of Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1 Performance Between Basketball and Field Hockey Players: A Comparative Analysis

Background: The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1 (YYIR1) is widely used to evaluate aerobic capacity and recovery in intermittent sports. This study aims to compare YYIR1 performance between basketball and field hockey players to understand sport-specific fitness adaptations and inform training protocols. Methods: A total of 60 male athletes (30 basketball players and 30 field hockey players) from competitive clubs participated in this study. Participants performed the YYIR1 test, which involves repeated 2x20 meter shuttle runs at increasing speeds interspersed with 10-second recovery periods, until exhaustion. Key performance metrics measured were total distance covered and VO2 max, calculated based on the test results. Data were analysed using independent t-tests to compare the performances between the two groups. Results: The basketball players covered a mean distance of 1235 ± 210 meters, while the field hockey players covered 1280 ± 195 meters. The difference in total distance covered between the groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Similarly, VO2 max values were comparable between basketball players (47.8 ± 4.2 mL/kg/min) and field hockey players (48.5 ± 3.9 mL/kg/min), with no significant difference observed (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there are no significant differences in YYIR1 performance between basketball and field hockey players, suggesting similar aerobic capacities and recovery abilities across these sports. The findings align with previous research by Mirani and Patil (2021) and Schmitz et al. (2018), indicating the robustness of the YYIR1 test in measuring aerobic endurance irrespective of sport-specific demands. These results highlight the need for tailored training programs that focus on enhancing sport-specific skills rather than general aerobic capacity alone. Keywords: Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1, basketball, field hockey, VO2Max, sports performance