Dynamic Yo Yo test for football refeerees

The Dynamic Yo-Yo test for referees and the Yo-Yo Intermittent test are approved by FIFA. In addition to the official test, the ”Dynamic YO-YO Test” and the “YO-YO Intermittent Test Level 1” may be used as methods of assessing the aerobic fitness of referees with the recommended standards.

Below you’ll find the descriptions plus a links to download audio files. With these files you can practice these test at home. These tests are optional for referees, but there is also an official test. Show me the official Fifa test for referees.

Optional test 1, Dynamic Yo-Yo: Procedure

1. The cones must be set out as illustrated in the diagram below. It is important that the colours (i.e. red and yellow) are placed accurately and that the distance between the red and yellow cones is exactly 20 meters. Referees may start from the yellow or red cones. It is recommended that the test be run in groups comprising no more than two referees starting from each cone.
2. Referees starting from a yellow cone should run to a red cone, turn and continue to the next yellow cone. Each run is interspersed by a recovery period.
3. Referees starting from a red cone should run to a yellow cone, turn and continue to the next red cone. Each run is interspersed by a recovery period.
4. The audio file will dictate the pace of the runs and the length of the each recovery period. Referees must keep pace with the audio file until they have reached the required recommended level.
5. If a referee fails to place a foot on the ‘finish cone’ on time, they should receive a clear warning from the test leader. If a referee fails to arrive on time on a second occasion, they should be pulled from the test by the test leader.

Download the Yo-Yo Dynamic audio files to practice at home

Reference times for men referees

1. International and category 1: level 18-8 / 2,040 metres
2. Category 2: level 18-5 / 1,920 metres
3. Lower category: level 18-1 / 1,760 metres

Reference times for women referees

1. International and category 1: level 17-8 / 1,720 metres
2. Category 2: level 17-5 / 1,600 metres
3. Lower categories: level 16-8 / 1,400 metres

Yo-Yo Intermittent test

1. Cones must be set out as illustrated in the diagram below. The distance between A and B is 5 metres. The distance between B and C is 20 metres.
2. Referees must complete the following sequence in accordance with the pace dictated by the audio file.
   • run 20m (B-C), turn and run 20m (C-B)
   • walk 5m (B-A), turn and walk 5m (A-B)
3. The audio file of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery run (level 1) will dictate the pace of the runs and the length of each recovery period. Referees must keep pace with the audio file until they have reached the recommended level.
4. The starting position requires the referees to be standing still with their front foot on the line (B). Referees must place a foot on the turning line C. If a referee fails to place a foot on the line C or fail to return to line B on time, they should receive a clear warning from the test leader. If a referee fails to place a foot on the line C or fail to return to line B on time for a second occasion, they should be pulled from the test by the test leader.

Download Yo-Yo Intermittent audio files

Reference times for men referees

1. International and category 1: level 18-2 / 1,800 metres
2. Category 2: level 17-7 / 1,680 metres
3. Lower categories: level 17-4 / 1,560 metres

Reference times for women referees

1. International and category 1: level 16-4 / 1,240 metres
2. Category 2: level 15-7 / 1,040 metres
3. Lower categories: level 15-3 / 880 metres

More on fitness

Hilco de Boer, pro referee fitness coach, tells you more about fitness for referees. And have you ever done the official test? Show me the official Fifa test for referees.