The aim of this study was (1) to develop a squash-specific exercise test (SSET) that simulates relevant physical and energetic demands especially necessary in elite squash and that can be used as a exercise test in the field, and (2) to assess its face and convergent validity. To develop a squash-specific exercise test for elite players a step-by-step procedure was applied. To assess face and convergent validity, a cross-sectional study based on a within-subject design was conducted among six healthy female elite squash players. Face validity was evaluated by comparing (Pearson correlation coefficient) the SSET outcome (m.sec-1) and the participants ranking from 1 to 6 accordingly to the Women’s international squash player association (WISPA). Convergent validity was evaluated by exploring the associations (Pearson correlation coefficient) between the SSET and a maximal treadmill running test for maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximum heart rate (HRmax) and maximum blood lactate (La+) outcomes. The SSET was developed as an exercise test with movement patterns common in squash, consisting of 4-6 stages of each 5-10 runs of each 39.72 m with speed increasing at each stage and a short rest between each run (10 s) and each stage (30 s). Outcome of the SSET is the speed the subject achieved at the last completed run. Subjects reached their maximum running speed within a total testing time of 20 minutes. Pearson correlation coefficient calculated with the SSEToutcomes and WISPA ranking was -0.78 (p>.05). Pearson correlation coefficient between the SSETand the maximal treadmill running test outcomes was 0.90 (p<.05) for VO2max, 0.99 (p<.01) for HRmax, and -0.09 (p>.05) for La+. We developed a squash-specific exercise test for elite squash players. Face validity of the SSET with the WISPA ranking was found to be good, while convergent validity between the SSET and a maximal treadmill running test was found to be good for VO2max and HRmax, and poor for La+.
