Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between intensities of exercise during match-play of elitestandard soccer referees with those of the players from the same match. Match analysis data were collected (Prozone1 Leeds, UK) for 18 elite-standard soccer referees (age 26–49 years) on FA Premier League matches during the 2008/09 English FA Premier League season (236 observations). Running categories for referees and players were as follows: total distance covered (m); high-speed running distance (speed > 19.8 km * h-1); and sprinting distance (speed > 25.2 km * h-1). Analysis of the distance–time regression coefficients revealed no differences between the referees’ and players’ within-match rates of change for total distance covered (-0.594 ± 0.394 vs.-0.713 ± 0.269 m * min-1; P=0.104), high-speed running (-0.039 ± 0.077 vs. -0.059 ± 0.030 m * min-1; P=0.199), and sprinting (-0.003 ± 0.039 vs. -0.021 ± 0.017 m * min-1; P=0.114). In addition, there were no differences between across-season rates of change for total distance (–26.756 ± 40.434 vs. -20.031 ± 25.502 m per match day; P=0.439) and sprinting (–9.662 ± 7.564 vs. -8.589 ± 4.351 m per match day; P=0.542). These results show that elite-standard soccer referees’ intensities of exercise during match-play are interrelated with those of the players and thus demonstrate that referees are able to keep pace with the players during FA Premier League matches. Verf.-Referat