Validity of The ʼBeep-Testʼ in Estimating VO2max Among Female College Soccer Players

Abstract

Soccer performance is highly dependent on players' maximal aerobic power, which can be measured directly in the laboratory (i.e. VO2 max) or indirectly using time efficient field tests (i.e. Leger and Lambert's 'Beep-Test'). PURPOSE: To determine the validity of the 'Beep-Test' in estimating VO2max among female college soccer players. METHODS: Ten NCAA Division I female college soccer players performed a VO2max laboratory treadmill test and the 'Beep-Test' within a 2 week period during their off-season. The 'Beep-Test' (Leger and Lambert, 1982) is a timed test performed to fatigue using multistage 20-meter shuttle runs for the prediction of VO2 max. A series of beeps from a pre-recorded audio cassette indicates the running velocity with which players complete the 20-meter shuttle runs. The starting velocity is 8 km/h and it increases by 0.5 km/h every 2 minutes. The test ends when a player either fails to complete the 20-meter distance two consecutive times within the allotted time or cannot complete the stage due to exhaustion. RESULTS: A correlation coefficient of r = 0.783 (P < 0.01 level) and SEE = 4.32 ml/kg/min were found between the VO max laboratory treadmill test (47.8 ±3.5 ml/km/min) and the 'Beep-Test' (50.9 ± 4.9 ml/km/min). CONCLUSION: The 'Beep-Test' provides a reasonably valid prediction of VO max among female collegiate soccer players. However, it overestimates VO2max by about 3 ±3(t= −3.227, df=9, P < 0.05).