Thanks Nilesh, read recently a paper by Burgi (International Journal of Obesity) where they use the 20mt Shuttle Run with adult running along with them (because their very young age). They fund a reality of r=0.84 when re test..

Best wishes

Dear Matias,

For one of my paper on pre-pubuscients athletes ( Lupo C., Tessitore A., Cortis C., Ammendolia A., Figura F., Capranica L. (2009). A Physiological, Time Motion and Technical Comparison of Youth Water Polo and Acquagoal. Journal of Sports Sciences. 27(8), 823-831.) I used this field and submaximal test Kline, G. M., Porcari, J. P., Hintermeister, R., Freedson, P. S., Ward, A., McCarron, R. F., et al. (1987). Estimation of _VO2max from a one-mile track walk, gender, age, and body weight. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 19, 253–259).

The test is a little old. However, it's very effective for this special population.

I hope to have helped you.

Corrado Lupo

I´ve worked with and participated on the first studies to validate the TCar intermittent field test for court sports such as futsal, handball, basketball and hockey.This test was developed at Santa Catarina State University, SC - Brazil and was the basis for a doctoral study. (Prof. Lorival Carminatti - UDESC - Brazil). You can find the protocol description on: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21993030.

I think that the test you select will depend on the type of cardiovascular fitness you are looking for in the child. If you want endurance, then a longer test (1 km run) would be more applicable for the population. If you are looking at power/speed, then the 20 m is more applicable. 

Also, something to look out for is the attention span of the children. No matter the test, pre-school aged kids are bound to get distracted. It might a good idea to have one running buddy for each child and make sure that they are consistent with their cuing. Children that require frequent cuing could throw off your normalized average unless you are tracking individual progress in performance, in which case...depending on the time lapse...the attention span could potentially stay consistent within the child. 

Hope this assists you! 

Thanks to all.

Heidi yes we are trying to have a battery of test for 4-6 year old children, measuring Cardiovascular fitness and also power/speed with vertical/standing long jump and 20 m run. Still here in Chile no data is available in these population. Thats why we want to have the idea that how are our kids. Find like Leonardo and Nilesh said think that 20m Shuttle is a safe and reliable test for these ages.

Thanks to all who took some time yo answer

best wishes.

Dijon Sports Science, Burgundy University

In 1994 we developed a Field Intermittent Test call 45s-15s (45s-15s FIT). It is particularly suitable for the evaluation of the maximum aerobic speed for children and all person who practice intermittent activity. Try this test you will be delighted.

Best regards.

Article Comparison of the 45s-15s Intermittent Running Field Test an...

Thanks Herve, but you think thus will applicable to 3-4 year old?.

Regards..