title: Physical demands of top-class soccer assistant refereeing during high-standard matches.
abstract: This study examined the physical demands experienced by top-class assistant referees during high-standard football matches. Computerized match analyses and heart rate recordings were performed on 18 international assistant referees during the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005. Total distance covered averaged 5752+/-554 m, of which 34% was covered at a high-intensity (>13 km.h (-1)). Sidewards movements represented 30% of total match distance. Both total distance (r=0.67; P<0.01) and high-intensity activities (r=0.52; P<0.05) were related to the displacements of the ball in the same match. The distance covered by high-speed running in this tournament was 255% greater (P<0.001) than that covered during the under-17 World Championship 2003. Mean heart rate during the game was 140+/-11 b.min (-1) (78+/-4% HR (max)). Mean heart rate during a 5-min interval of the match was related in part (r=0.31; P<0.001) to the amount of high-intensity activities performed within the same match-period. The results of this study show that the physical demands imposed on assistant referees are influenced by the movements of the ball and the standard of the competition.
authors.affiliation: Facultad Ciencias Actividad Física y el Deporte, Laboratorio de Biomecánica, Madrid, Spain. javier.mallo@upm.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mallo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcia Aranda
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Helsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*