Physical fitness and physiological characteristics of soccer referees

• Published in: Science & sports 2016-02, Vol.31 (1), p.27-35
• Main Authors: Castillo, D., Yanci, J., Casajús, J.A., Cámara, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceleration; Accélération; Agility; Agilité; Endurance; Field test; Sprint; Tests sur place
• ISSN: 0765-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2015.11.003

The purpose of our research was primarily to investigate the physical fitness and physiological characteristics of soccer referees according to their competitive status, level and age, and secondly, to analyze the relationship among sprint, change of direction ability and endurance capacity. Forty-five Spanish referees were grouped according to status: field (FR, n=23) and assistant (AR, n=22), competitive level: national (NR, n=28) and provincial (PR, n=17), and age: >35 yr (n=10) and≤35 yr (n=35). The main focuses of our study were acceleration, change of direction ability and endurance capacity, which were measured by 20 and 30m linear straight sprinting tests (LSST), the modified agility T-test free (MATF) and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (YYIR1), respectively. The results showed no significant differences between FR and AR, or between NR and PR groups. However,>35 yr were significantly slower (P≤0.01) than the≤35 yr in the 20m sprint, 30m sprint and the MATF. Moreover, the>35 yr covered significantly (P≤0.01) less distance in the YYIR1 than the≤35 yr group and HRmax was significantly (P≤0.05) lower in the>35 yr group. MATF was strongly related to the 20m (r=0.762) and 30m (r=0.757) sprints. Our findings suggest the necessity of implementing specific training programs focused on maintaining change of direction ability, acceleration and aerobic capacity in referees older than 35years. Cette étude a eu pour but principalement d’examiner la condition physique et les caractéristiques physiologiques des arbitres de football selon leur statut compétitif, niveau et âge, et en second lieu d’analyser la relation entre le sprint, l’habileté a changer de direction et la capacité d’endurance. Quarante-cinq arbitres espagnols ont été répartis en groupes selon leur statut : arbitre central (FR, n=23) ou arbitre assistant (AR, n=2), niveau compétitif : national (NR, n=28) ou provincial (PR, n=17), et âge : >35ans (n=10) ou≤35ans (n=35). Les principaux objets de notre étude étaient accélération, agilité et capacité d’endurance, que l’on a mesurées avec deux épreuves de sprint de 20 et 30m linéaires (LSST), l’épreuve T libre d’agilité modifié (MATF) et le Yo-Yo test de la récupération intermittente de niveau 1 (YY1R1), respectivement. On n’a pas trouvé de différences significatives entre les FR et les AR, ou entre les groupes NR ou PR. Cependant, les>35ans étaient significativement plus lents (p≤0,01) que les≤35ans dans le sprint de 20m, le sprint de 30