Changes in the physical fitness of soccer referees: a longitudinal study

The aim of this study was to determine the evolution of the physical fitness of soccer referees measured by cardiovascular capacity, vertical jumping ability and acceleration capacity for three different seasons. The longitudinal study was conducted over the 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. The final sample selected to participate in this study was 16 referees (age = 28.37 +/- 5.3 years, height = 1.77 +/- 0.23 m, mass = 74.48 +/- 8.18 kg, body fat = 13.37 +/- 3.72%) belonging to different categories of Spanish soccer league. No significant differences in the estimated VO2max or time to exhaustion (TAGOT) in the endurance test over the three seasons were found in soccer referee. However, the ability to accelerate both 5 m and 15 m significantly worse (p < 0.01, ES > 0.8) along the different seasons. Likewise, the ability of the muscle stretch-shortening cycle of the lower extremities showed a worsening trend over time (ES = 0.53 to 0.76). The loss of performance acceleration capacity and muscle stretch-shortening cycle of the lower extremities capacity can lead us to think about the need to implement specific training programs for improving soccer referees.