Yo-Yo Test Standards
The yo-yo test is becoming a popular assessment tool for many team sport players, and even some teams are using the test as a selection standard, requiring a minimal score be reached before they can be eligible for selection in the team.
In Cricket
In India, there has been a lot of discussion about the setting of a benchmark score of 16.1 that all Indian cricketers need to achieve before national selection. Coach Ravi Shastri is set to increase India's Yo-Yo test passing mark to 17 ahead of a series against South Africa in September 2019.
In 2018, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) joined the Indian equivalent to require that a player to be selected in the national team, he needs to reach 17.3 while players for the emerging team (U-23) will need to reach at least 17.1.
Since December 2018, All West Indies cricketers must pass the Yo-Yo test if they want to be selected to play any format for the men's and women's teams. The minimum score for selection to the West Indies men's team is 17.5 (40 x 40m shuttles), and lower for members of the women's team.
Some online sources list higher standards for other national cricket teams, though they may not be using these scores as part of the team selection process. The minimal standard in the yo-yo test for English and New Zealand players is apparently 19, and for Sri Lanka and Pakistan teams it is 17.4.
In Football (Soccer)
There are minimum yo-yo test standards required for players in the Malaysian Soccer League (MSL) and Singapore's domestic professional league (S-League). The S-League introduced the yo-yo test as a compulsory fitness test in 2018, replacing the 2.4km run or beep test. The standard that was set for the players is a minimum of 18.4.
In Rugby
England Sevens players are required to reach Level 19. https://talksport.com/sport/rugby-union/547497/diet-fitness-training-exercises-tickets-england-rugby-sevens-faster-stronger-core-workout/
USA Rugby Referees list the following standards: international standard (18.5), national panel (18), C1-B Panel (17), local ref C2-C3 (16). https://www.usarugby.org/2017/01/refereeing-and-fitness/?fkxcMCgqYHuHA70d.99
The World Rugby standard for referees in the YoYo tests back in 2017 was 18.1 (from https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/blacks-style-fitness-test-awaiting-16377689)
In Basketball
In 2018 the yo-yo test (YYIR1) replaced the 20m beep test as the fitness test for elite basketball (FIBA) referees. The new test is called FIBA Referees Elite Yo-Yo Test. Male referees and females in male competitions are required to reach at least 16-3, and v female referees need to reach 15-4.
In Netball
Fiji's U20 coach Vicki Wilson wants her mid-court players to be at 20 in their yo-yo test and players who would man the semi-circle to be on 18 (from the Fiji Times, 'Wilson sets U/20 team standard', 11 Aug 2016).
The New Zealand team were set minimum yo-yo test levels in December 2018, with players having six months to achieve the standard ahead of the World Cup naming. Each position has a different yoyo test score requirement, with goal shooters having the lowest standard and centers the highest. (as published on stuff.com.nz "Netball World Cup: Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua staunchly defends fitness standards" May 24 2019)
Netball New Zealand has set yo-yo test standards for their junior and senior team squads. In the document from May 2016 "Player Profile - Physical Fitness testing Guidelines Zone/Centre & School Programmes (U/15 to U/21's)", the following standards are listed:
| Position | U/15 to U/21's Standard | Silver Fern's Standard |
|---|---|---|
| GS | 15.5+ | 18.1+ |
| GA | 16+ | 18.6+ |
| WA | 16.5+ | 19.2+ |
| C | 16.5+ | 20.1+ |
| WD | 16.5+ | 18.6+ |
| GD | 16.5+ | 18.6+ |
| GK | 15.5+ | 17.6+ |
There are also other standards in an older document from March 2010, also published by Netball New Zealand, "Fitness testing Guidelines for Players and Umpires" by M Kritz and G Thompson.
| GS / GK | GA / GD | WA / WD / C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sec. School/U17/U19 | 15.1 | 16.1 | 17.1 |
| Senior Club/U21 Rep | 15.3 | 16.3 | 17.3 |
| Senior Rep | 15.5 | 16.5 | 17.5 |
| NZ U21/ANZC franchise | 16.1 | 17.1 | 18.1 |
| Silver Ferns | 16.5 | 17.5 | 18.5 |
| Umpires (Male) | 17 | ||
| Umpires (Female) | 15 | ||
International netball umpires also need to reach a minimum standard in the yo-yo test (they can choose to do the beep or yo-yo test). International umpires are required to achieve at least Level 15.1 on the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1.
More Resources
- Yo-yo test results for a range of sports.
- Should the Yo-Yo Test be used as a selection standard in cricket?
- List of Yo-Yo Test Resources.
- There are also rating tables for the yo-yo test results.
- Use the yo-yo IR1 test calculator to get a fitness rating.
- Buying the Yo-Yo Test
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