The purpose of this study was to evaluate the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) values in soccer players as assessed by field and laboratory tests. Thirty-five elite young soccer players were studied (mean age 18.1 ± 1.0 years, training duration 8.3 ± 1.5 years) in the middle of the playing season. All subjects performed 2 maximal field tests: the Yo-Yo endurance test (T1) for the estimation of VO2max according to normogram values, and the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test (T2) using portable telemetric ergospirometry; as well as 2 maximal exercise tests on the treadmill with continuous (T3) and intermittent (T4) protocols. The estimated VO2max values of the T1 test (56.33 ml·kg-1·min-1) were 10.5%, 11.4%, and 13.3% (p ≤ 0.05) lower than those of the T2 (62.96 ml·kg-1·min-1), T3(63.59 ml·kg-1·min-1) and T4 (64.98 ml·kg-1·min-1) tests, respectively. Significant differences were also found between the intermittent exercise protocols T1 and T3 (p ≤ 0.001) and the continuous exercise protocols T2 and T4 (p ≤ 0.001). There was a high degree of cross correlation between the VO2max values of the 3 ergospirometric tests (T2 versus T3, r = 0.47, p ≤ 0.005; T2versus T4, r = 0.59, p ≤ 0.001; T3 versus T4r = 0.79, p ≤ 0.001). It is necessary to use ergospirometry to accurately estimate aerobic capacity in soccer players. Nevertheless, the Yo-Yo field tests should be used by coaches because they are easy and helpful tools in the training program setting and for player follow-up during the playing season.
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Metaxas et al. (2005) studied this question.