Activity profile of top-class association football referees in relation to performance in selected physical tests.
The aims of the present study were (1) to analyse the physical demands of top-class referees and (2) to compare their official FIFA fitness test results with physical performance during a match. The work rate profiles of 11 international referees were assessed during 12 competitive matches at the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and then analysed using a bi-dimensional photogrammetric video analysis system based on direct lineal transformation (DLT) algorithms. In the first 15 min of matches, the referees were more active, performing more high-intensity exercise (P < 0.01) than in the first 15 min of the second half. During the second half of matches, the referees covered a shorter distance (P < 0.01), spent more time standing still (P < 0.05), and covered less ground cruising (P < 0.05), sprinting (P < 0.05), and moving backwards (P < 0.001) than in the first half. Also in the second 45 min, the distance of referees from infringements increased (P < 0.05) in the left attacking zone of the filed. There was also a decrease (P < 0.05) in performance in the period following the most high-intensity activity, compared with the mean for the 90 min. Time spent performing high-intensity activities during a match was not related to performance in the 12-min run (r(2) = 0.30; P < 0.05), the 200-m sprint (r(2) = 0.05; P < 0.05), or the 50-m sprint (r(2) = 0.001; P < 0.05). The results of this study show that: (1) top-class referees experienced fatigue at different stages of the match, and (2) the typical field tests used by FIFA (two 50-m and 200-m sprints, followed by a 12-min run) are not correlated with match activities.
Mallo
Javier
J
Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte--INEF--Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Navarro
Enrique
E
García-Aranda
José-María
JM
Gilis
Bart
B
Helsen
Werner
W
D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012916:Soccer; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis