Somatotype and Physical Fitness of the Assistant Referees in Soccer

The aim of this study was to analyze the somatotype of assistant referees and examine its correlation with physical performance during FIFA physical tests. Study subjects were referees from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Paranese Football Federation (FPF) who appeared before the Physical Evaluation Committee of the FPF in order to submit to the physical fitness tests. The sample was comprised of 11 referees from the CBF and considered the elite of Brazil, and 34 FPF referees who officiate at regional level in the state of Parana. In order to determine body composition nine skin folds, nine body circumferences and four bone diameter measures were used. To assess variables related to physical fitness a battery of the following FIFA physical tests were used: two runs of 50 meters and 12 minute running tests. Data analysis of body composition indicated fat percentage of assistant referees from the CBF was 16.74 +/- 3.71%, and assistants of the FPF was 17.09 +/- 4.38%. There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05). With regard to somatotype, CBF assistants were classified as meso-endomorph and FPF assistants as endo-mesomorph, in other words, CBF assistants group showed a higher predominant muscular component over fat. The difference between somatotypes was statistically significant (DDS=2.22). In reference to the speed test the CBF assistant referees were faster than the FPF referees, the difference being statistically significant between results (p=0.0001). During a match, assistant referees perform a lesser physical effort than the main referee; their performance however was similar to the main referee in the physical tests.