Carlo Castagna1,2,3, Alejo Pérez Leguizamón4, Susana C Araújo Póvoas5,6. 1. Italian Football Referees Association - AIA, Technical Department, Rome, Italy - castagnac@libero.it. 2. Technical Department, Fitness Training and Biomechanics Laboratory, Italian Football Federation - FIGC, Coverciano, Florence, Italy - castagnac@libero.it. 3. Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy - castagnac@libero.it. 4. Refereeing Department, Asian Football Confederation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 5. Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development - CIDESD, University Institute of Maia - ISMAI, Maia, Portugal. 6. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster - SHSC, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aim was to profile physical fitness in talented football referees (FR) with performance relevant field-tests across time. METHODS: Thirty-eight male FR (age 28±1.5 years, height 178±5.1 cm, body mass 69.0±7.34 kg, body fat 17.2±2.87%) were observed for 15 months. Endurance was assessed with the yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1) and repeated sprint ability (RSA) with 5×30 m line-sprints with 30 s recovery (5×30 m). Long sprint endurance (LSA) and change of direction ability (COD) evaluated with novel field-tests. FR was tested six times (every three months) during the study. RESULTS: YYIR1 performance showed large increments across testing occasions. Sprint time in the COD largely and significantly decreased across the testing occasions. Very large associations were reported between 5×30 m and LSA tests grand mean (r=0.89, 0.78-0.94, P<0.0001). A nearly perfect (r=0.97, 0.94-0.99, P<0.0001) association was observed between 5×30 m best sprint and 5×30 m grand means. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed ability-related variations in performance across time. The effect of training and competitions on the determinism of physical fitness in refereeing seem plausible. Interestingly, sprint endurance tests shared a very large variance proposing tests interchangeability and mutual physiological demands. This study information provides useful information for the development of sound field-tests batteries in talented FR.
BACKGROUND: This study aim was to profile physical fitness in talented football referees (FR) with performance relevant field-tests across time. METHODS: Thirty-eight male FR (age 28±1.5 years, height 178±5.1 cm, body mass 69.0±7.34 kg, body fat 17.2±2.87%) were observed for 15 months. Endurance was assessed with the yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIR1) and repeated sprint ability (RSA) with 5×30 m line-sprints with 30 s recovery (5×30 m). Long sprint endurance (LSA) and change of direction ability (COD) evaluated with novel field-tests. FR was tested six times (every three months) during the study. RESULTS: YYIR1 performance showed large increments across testing occasions. Sprint time in the COD largely and significantly decreased across the testing occasions. Very large associations were reported between 5×30 m and LSA tests grand mean (r=0.89, 0.78-0.94, P<0.0001). A nearly perfect (r=0.97, 0.94-0.99, P<0.0001) association was observed between 5×30 m best sprint and 5×30 m grand means. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed ability-related variations in performance across time. The effect of training and competitions on the determinism of physical fitness in refereeing seem plausible. Interestingly, sprint endurance tests shared a very large variance proposing tests interchangeability and mutual physiological demands. This study information provides useful information for the development of sound field-tests batteries in talented FR.
Authors: Víctor Moreno-Pérez; Marc Madruga-Parera; Daniel Romero-Rodríguez; Javier Sanchéz-Sanchéz; José Luis Felipe; Lluis Marcè-Hernández; Eudald Recasens-Sarrà; Juan Del Coso Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-09-15 Impact factor: 3.390