Elite Futsal Refereeing: Activity Profile and Physiological Demands

Rebelo, AN, Ascensao, AA, Magalhaes, JF, Bischoff, R, Bendiksen, M, and Krustrup, P. Elite futsal refereeing: activity profile and physiological demands. J Strength Cond Res 25(4): 980-987, 2011—The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological demands and to establish the relationship between activity profile and endurance capacity of futsal referees. Eighteen elite futsal referees (33.0 6 5.1 years, 173 6 5 cm, and 73.2 6 8.4 kg) were studied. Video filming (n = 18) and heart rate (HR) recordings were performed throughout games. Blood lactate (n = 14) was determined at rest and after the game. Endurance capacity was determined with the Yo-Yo IE2. The number of activity changes was as high as 1,395 6 218 (6SD). Total distance covered, high-intensity running (HIR), sprinting (SPR), and sideways running were 5.89 6 0.56, 0.96 6 0.29, 0.09 6 0.07, and 0.91 6 0.46 km, respectively. The number of HIR and SPR bouts was 129 6 41 and 9 6 8, respectively, with a mean duration of ;1.4 seconds. Blood lactate content was 1.0 6 0.3 and 1.5 6 0.5 mM before and after the game. The amount of HIR performed during the match correlated significantly (r = 0.77; p , 0.05) with the Yo-Yo IE2 performance. Considering the data obtained in the present study, the use of match-specific intermittent fitness tests to evaluate futsal referees seems to be required.