1 GENERAL: How do you convert cardiorespiratory endurance scores (PACER laps and time for the mile run) into aerobic capacity scores?

Several formulae have been developed for converting field test scores of cardiorespiratory endurance into aerobic capacity scores. Until recently, FitnessGram used a formula that included field test scores, age, gender, and BMI to determine aerobic capacity (VO₂max).

FitnessGram now uses a more recently developed formula for converting PACER laps (cardiorespiratory endurance scores) into aerobic capacity scores. Tables have been developed to simplify the conversion (they use a table rather than a formula). To find these, visit www.cooperinstitute.org/lookup-tables and type “look up tables” in the search box.

The new PACER conversion tables (FG 10.0) do not use BMI. This solves problems associated with the previous tables related to BMI. Now youth of the same age use the same lap scores to convert to aerobic capacity. The tables for FG9 are still used for converting mile run scores to aerobic capacity. A new formula for converting mile run scores to aerobic capacity is under development.

Current equation for converting PACER laps to aerobic capacity:

VO₂max = 45.619 + (0.353 * PACER laps) − (1.121 * age)