Multi-stage fitness test

The multi-stage fitness test, also known as the bleep test, beep test, pacer test, Leger-test or 20-m shuttle run test, is used by sports coaches and trainers to estimate an athlete's VO₂ max (maximum oxygen uptake). The test is especially useful for players of sports like squash, rugby, football (soccer), hockey, netball, handball, tennis and many other sports; employed by many international sporting teams as an accurate test of Cardiovascular fitness, one of the all-important "Components of Fitness". This test is also part of the FITNESSGRAM physical fitness test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness. The test was created by Luc Leger, University of Montreal^[1] published in 1983, "A Maximal Multistage 20m Shuttle Run Test to predict VO₂ Max", and was re-published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology (vol 49 pp 1–12) in 1988 in its present form with 1 min stages under the name "Multistage 20-m shuttle run test for aerobic fitness".^[2] Result equivalences between slightly modified versions are well explained by Tomkinson et al. in 2003.^[3]

Rules

The test involves running continuously between two points that are 20 m apart from side to side. These runs are synchronized with a pre-recorded audio tape, CD or laptop software, which plays beeps at set intervals. As the test proceeds, the interval between each successive beep reduces, forcing the athlete to increase their speed over the course of the test, until it is impossible to keep in sync with the recording (or, in rare occasions, if the athlete completes the test). Many people who test people using the Multi-stage fitness test allow one level to beep before the person makes the line, but if the person being tested does not make the next interval then the most recent level they completed is their final score. The recording is typically structured into 21 'levels', each of which lasts around 62 seconds. Usually, the interval of beeps is calculated as requiring a speed at the start of 8.5 km/h, increasing by 0.5 km/h with each level thereafter. The progression from one level to the next is signaled by 3 rapid beeps. The highest level attained before failing to keep up is recorded as the score for that test.It gets faster every level of the test.

Uses

Uses for the multi-stage fitness test extend far and wide, not just from sporting organizations but into various operational organizations as well, as a measure of basic fitness. It allows the organization to determine whether an employee (or potential employee) possesses a degree of fitness to be able to perform his or her duties. Examples of this include police officers, community support officers, fire fighters or soldiers. As a result, to be deemed sufficiently able to perform such duties, the multi-stage fitness test is used to determine whether an individual is capable of performing such duties (or training for those duties) based on what level they achieve. This test is used in physical education classes to determine whether a student is in their "healthy fitness zone" for cardiorespiratory health.

Various Association football (soccer) organizations also use it for evaluating players. There it is supposed to indicate how a player performs when tired. Ironically, there is no basis for this since the muscle type (see fast- and slow-twitch muscles) is highly indicative of whether or not the test is useful. For people with predominantly slow twitch muscles the results of this test are the least useful. Another criticism for using this test is that it doesn't follow that soccer is not all constant running nor does the level of running constantly increase. A slightly better variant (but still not realistic to a game situation) is the Nike SPARQ Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test.

Organization	Type of organization	Country	Minimum level attained	Comments
Western Australia Police	Police	Australia	10.1 to 8.1 (male), 7.1 to 6.1 (female)	Source: http://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/pdf/Physical%20Evaluation%20Information%20_Recruit%20specific_.pdf
Airservices Australia	Aviation rescue and fire fighting	Australia	9.6	Source: http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/careers/arff/selectionprocess.asp
Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Melbourne)	Fire/emergency response	Australia	9.6	Source: http://www.mfb.vic.gov.au/Recruitment/Selection-Process/7-Physical-fitness-and-firefighting-aptitude-test.html
New South Wales Fire Brigades	Fire/emergency response	Australia	9.6	Source: http://fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/files/pdf/recruitment/PAT_applicant_preparation_guide.pdf
Victoria Police	Police	Australia	6.10	All ages[4]
Queensland Police Service	Police	Australia	7.8 to 9.4 (male), 6.3 to 7.5 (female)	Source: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/Resources/Internet/join/documents/Health%20Screening%20and%20Physical%20Skills%20Education%20Brochure.pdf
Scottish police	Police	UK	9.2 (male), 7.3 (female) (aged 18-29) - 15 Metre shuttle only	Source: http://www.acpos.police.uk/Documents/Policies/P&T_Fitness-Recruitment%20Guide_010907.pdf
South Australia Police	Police	Australia	9.04 (male), 6.10 (female)	Age 18-29. Varies by age (http://www.achievemore.com.au/officer/files/physical%20tests.pdf)
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service	Fire/emergency response	Australia	8.7	Source: http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/employment/pdf/Bk%204-assessments%20and%20medical%20standards%20June%202009.pdf
Australian Army	Military	Australia	7.5	Preliminary Fitness Test Standard required prior to enlistment.
Royal New Zealand Navy	Military	New Zealand	7.1	Minimum Fitness Level
Royal Australian Navy	Military	Australia	6.9 to 5.0	Source: http://www.navy.gov.au/Recruit_School_-_Fitness
Royal Australian Air Force	Military	Australia	6.5	Source: http://content.defencejobs.gov.au/pdf/triservice/DFT_Brochure_Fitness.pdf
Ontario Provincial Police	Police	Canada	6.5
Canadian Forces	Military	Canada	6.0 (male), 4.0 (female) (under 35)	Varies by military occupation and specialty. Source: http://www.cflrs.forces.gc.ca/menu/ps/rec/index-eng.asp
English and Welsh police	Police	UK	5.4	General roles. Specialist roles require higher levels. Source: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/home-office-circulars/circulars-2004/043-2004/621148?view=Binary
New South Wales Police Force	Police	Australia	5.1	Source: http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/recruitment/am_i_fit_enough/physical_capacity_testing/current_physical_capacity_testing_standards
Royal Canadian Air Cadets [5]	Paramilitary youth program	Canada	Depends on age	Part of the new 'Fitness and Incentive' program. Used to track improvements in fitness level. Fitness badges may be earned.
Royal Canadian Army Cadets [6]	Paramilitary youth program	Canada	Depends on age	Part of the new 'Fitness and Incentive' program. Used to track improvements in fitness level. Fitness badges may be earned.
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets [7]	Paramilitary youth programoo	Canada	Depends on age	Part of the new 'Fitness and Incentive' program. Used to track improvements in fitness level. Fitness badges may be earned.

² The Royal Navy has a varying level dependent on age and gender, and is only used a base level during the Admiralty Interview Board with the main test, a 2.4 km run to be completed upon arrival at BRNC Dartmouth.

Format

The original beep test was first only available on audio tape format. A problem with the tape was that it could stretch over time, or the tape player did not play at a consistent speed, therefore making the timing between beeps inaccurate. On most versions of the tape there was a one minute recorded interval for calibrating the tape and tape player. The compact disc or MP3 format is now used predominantly. Calibration checks are still required on the CD/MP3 due to some tone controls affecting the playback speed.

Inexpensive PC Beep Test Software is very popular with the advantage of no timing errors/accurate to 1/100th of a second, as used by the top team coaches. This generally runs on a Laptop, making the beep/bleep test easier to organise for teams/groups and also tracks player fitness over the season.

Calculations

These calculations were updated 17th Aug 2009 and are based on the official Leger and Lambert "A Maximal Multi-Stage 20m Shuttle Run Test to predict VO₂ Max".

Level	Shuttles	Cumulative Shuttles	Speed (km/h)	Shuttle Time (seconds)	Total level time (s)	Distance (m)	Cumulative Distance (m)	Cumulative Time (min and seconds)
1	7	7	8.0	9.00	63.00	140	140	1:03
2	8	15	9.0	8.00	64.00	160	300	2:07
3	8	23	9.5	7.58	60.63	160	460	3:08
4	9	32	10.0	7.20	64.80	180	640	4:12
5	9	41	10.5	6.86	61.71	180	820	5:14
6	10	51	11.0	6.55	65.50	200	1020	6:20
7	10	61	11.5	6.26	62.61	200	1220	7:22
8	11	72	12.0	6.00	66.00	220	1440	8:28
9	11	83	12.5	5.76	63.36	220	1660	9:31
10	11	94	13.0	5.54	60.92	220	1880	10:32
11	12	106	13.5	5.33	64.00	240	2120	11:36
12	12	118	14.0	5.14	61.71	240	2360	12:38
13	13	131	14.5	4.97	64.55	260	2620	13:43
14	13	144	15.0	4.80	62.40	260	2880	14:45
15	13	157	15.5	4.65	60.39	260	3140	15:46
16	14	171	16.0	4.50	63.00	280	3420	16:49
17	14	185	16.5	4.36	61.09	280	3700	17:50
18	15	200	17.0	4.24	63.53	300	4000	18:54
19	15	215	17.5	4.11	61.71	300	4300	19:56
20	16	231	18.0	4.00	64.00	320	4620	21:00
21	16	247	18.5	3.89	62.27	320	4940	22:03

The multi-stage fitness test incurs a total distance of 4940 meters (247 laps) in a time of twenty two minutes and three seconds (22:03). Please note, there are a few errors in this table compared to the original one minute MSFT as published by Leger & Lambert, mainly in the round-ups on stage 8 & 20 these should be exactly one minute as originally designed.

See also

• Harvard Step Test, a cardiovascular test
• Physical fitness test

References

1. ^ TESTING PHYSICAL FITNESS, EUROFIT Experimental Battery PROVISIONAL HANDBOOK, STRASBOURG 1983 http://www.bitworks-engineering.co.uk/linked/eurofit%20provisional%20handbook%20leger%20beep%20test%201983.pdf
2. ^ Léger, L.A.; Mercier, D.; Gadoury, C.; Lambert, J. (1988). "The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness". J Sports Sci 6 (2): 93–101. PMID 3184250. 
3. ^ Tomkinson, GR, Léger, L., Olds, TS, Cazorla, G., Secular trends in the performance of children and adolescents (1980-2000): An analysis of 55 studies of the 20 m shuttle run in 11 countries. Sports Medicine, 33:285-300, 2003.
4. ^ http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?Media_ID=32833
5. ^ CATO 14-18 http://www.cadets.ca/coats-saioc/cato-oaic/cato_oaic.aspx?id=110633
6. ^ CATO 14-18 http://www.cadets.ca/coats-saioc/cato-oaic/cato_oaic.aspx?id=110633
7. ^ CATO 14-18 http://www.cadets.ca/coats-saioc/cato-oaic/cato_oaic.aspx?id=110633

External links

• Complete Guide to the Beep Test - TopEndSports.com
• Background information on the Beep Test - Rugbycoach.com
• http://www.aztechgroup.co.uk/fleettownreds/html/fitness_training_results.html - Aztechgroup.co.uk
• http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikesparq_mobile/en_GB/drill4?m=240 - Nike.com