Heart rate of soccer referees during matches: A systematic review

Year 2024, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 131 - 137, 30.06.2024

Stefan Stojanovic , İsmail İlbak , Ana Lilić , Sebiha Kurhan

https://doi.org/10.31459/turkjkin.1462145

Abstract

The physical demands of elite soccer players can affect the activity of the referees. During a competitive match, an elite soccer referee covers 9–13 km at 85–90% of the heart rate (HR). This systematic review aimed to scrutinize the scientific literature concerning HR values in football referees during matches. The search encompassed PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases up to April 24, 2023, alongside manual searches using specific keywords. Eligible studies included controlled observational trials involving soccer referees of various levels. Fifteen articles met the criteria, focusing on average heart rate (HRavg) and maximum heart rate (HRmax) during matches. The average HRavg among the sampled referees was 163.13 ± 8.89 bpm, with HRmax averaging 191.2 ± 7.01 bpm. HRavg ranged from 137.76 to 184.9 bpm, while HRmax ranged from 169.1 to 222 bpm. Despite variations in football competition levels, the monitored variables exhibited similar values across studies. These findings underscore the importance of HR monitoring for referee training and programming to ensure they can effectively manage the physical demands of matches at all levels of competition.

Keywords

Football referee, heart rate, monitoring, soccer official, soccer referee

References

• Al Attar, W. S. A., Faude, O., Bizzini, M., Alarifi, S., Alzahrani, H., Almalki, R. S., Banjar, R. G., & Sanders, R. H. (2021). The FIFA 11+ shoulder injury prevention program was effective in reducing upper extremity injuries among soccer goalkeepers: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med, 49(9), 2293-2300.
• Aoba, Y., Yoshimura, M., Miyamory, T., & Suzuki, S. (2011). Assessment of soccer referee performance during games. Football Science, 8, 8-15.
• Ardigò, L. P. (2010). Low-cost match analysis of Italian sixth and seventh division soccer refereeing. J Strength Cond Res, 24(9), 2532-2538.
• Barbero-Álvarez, J., Boullosa, D. A., Nakamura, F. Y., Andrín, G., Castagna, C. (2012). Physical and physiological demands of field and assistant soccer referees during America's cup. J Strength Cond Res, 26(5), 1383-1388.
• Bizzini, M., Junge, A., Bahr, R., Helsen, W., & Dvorak, J. (2009). Injuries and musculoskeletal complaints in referees and assistant referees selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup: Retrospective and prospective survey. Br J Sports Med, 43, 490-497.
• Bloß, N., Schorer, J., Loffing, F., & Büsch, D. (2020). Physical load and referees' decision-making in sports games: a scoping review. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 19(1), 149-157.
• Castagna, C., Abt, G., & D’Ottavio, S. (2007). Physiological aspects of soccer refereeing performance and training. Sports Medicine, 37, 625-646.
• Catterall, C., Reilly, T., Atkinson, G., & Coldwells, A. (1993). Analysis of the work rates and heart rates of association football referees. Br J Sports Med, 27(3), 193-196.
• Colosio, A. L., Lievens, M., Pogliaghi, S., Bourgois, J. G., & Boone, J. (2020). Heart rate-index estimates aerobic metabolism in professional soccer players. J Sci Med Sport, 23(12), 1208-1214.
• Costa, E. C., Vieira, C. M., Moreira, A., Ugrinowitsch, C., Castagna, C., & Aoki, M. S. (2013). Monitoring external and internal loads of brazilian soccer referees during official matches. J Sci Med Sport, 12(3), 559-564.
• Costa, V. T. d., Ferreira, R. M., Penna, E. M., Costa, I. T. d., Noce, F., & Simim, M.A.d.M. (2010). Análise estresse psíquico em árbitros de futebol. Rev Bras Cineantropom Hum, 3(2), 2-16.
• Dolanski, B., Szwarc, A., Heinig, B., & Sitek, M. (2017). Physical activity profile of the referee and the assistant referee during official football matches. Balt J Health Phys A, 9(3), 97-105.
• Dottavio, S., & Castagna, C. (2001). Analysis of match activities in elite soccer referees during actual match play. J Strength Cond Res, 15(2), 167-171.
• D'ottavio, S., & Castagna, C. (2001). Physiological load imposed on elite soccer referees during actual match play. J Sport Med Phys Fit, 41(1), 27-32.
• Field, A., Naughton, R. J., Haines, M., Lui, S., Corr, L. D., Russell, M., Page, R. M., & Harper, L. D. (2022). The demands of the extra-time period of soccer: A systematic review. J Sport Health Sci, 11(3), 403-414.
• Foster, C. (1998). Monitoring training in athletes with special reference to overtraining syndrome. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 30(7), 1164 – 1168.
• Gantois, P., Piqueras-Sanchiz, F., Cid, M. J. F. A., Pino-Ortega, J., Castillo, D., & Nakamura, F.Y. (2022). The effects of different small-sided games configurations on heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and running demands in professional soccer players. Eur J Sport Sci, 8, 1-9.
• Harley, R., Tozer, K., & Doust, J. (2001). An analysis of movement patterns and physiological strain in relation to optimal positioning of association football referees. In: Spinks W, Reilly, T. and Murphy, A., eds, editor. Science and football IV. Routledge, London.
• Helsen, W., & Bultynck, J. B. (2004). Physical and perceptual-cognitive demands of top-class refereeing in association football. J Sport Sci, 22(2), 179-89.
• Hostrup, M., & Bangsbo, J. (2023). Performance adaptations to intensified training in top-level football. Sports Med, 53(3), 577-594.
• IFAB (2018). Soccer laws illustrated: officially approved and recommended by The Referees' Committee of FIFA: with the laws of the game and decisions of the International Football Association Board: FIFA; 2017/2018. Retrieved from: https://www.theifab.com/
• Junior, P. B., Lourenção, A., Ribeiro, L. F. P., Festuccia, W. T. L., & Neiva, C. M. (2002). Consumo máximo de oxigênio e limiar anaeróbio de jogadores de futebol: Comparação entre as diferentes posições. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 8(2), 32-36.
• Krustrup, P., & Bangsbo, J. (2001). Physiological demands of top-class soccer refereeing in relation to physical capacity: effect of intense intermittent exercise training. J Sport Sci, 19(11), 881-891.
• Lima e Silva, L., Neves, E., Silva, J., Alonso, L., Vale, R., & Nunes, R. (2020). The haemodynamic demand and the attributes related to the displacement of the soccer referees in the moments of decision/intervention during the matches. Int J Perf Anal Spor, 20(2), 219–230.
• Mallo, J., Navarro, E., Aranda, J. M., & Helsen, W. F. (2009). Activity profile of top-class association football referees in relation to fitness-test performance and match standard. J Sport Sci, 27(1), 9-17.
• Martínez-Torremocha, G., Martin-Sanchez, M. L., Garcia-Unanue, J., Felipe, J. L., Moreno-Pérez, V., Paredes-Hernández, V., Gallardo, L., & Sanchez-Sanchez, J. (2023). Physical demands on professional Spanish football referees during matches. Sci Med Football, 7(2), 139-145.
• Martin-Sanchez, M.L., Oliva-Lozano, J.M, Garcia-Unanue, J., Felipe, J. L., Moreno-Pérez, V., Gallardo, L., & Sánchez-Sánchez, J. (2022). Physical demands in Spanish male and female elite football referees during the competition: a prospective observational study. Sci Med Football, 6(5), 566-571.
• Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). The PRISMA Group. Reprint-Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta- analyses: The PRISMA statement. Phys Ther, 89, 873–880.
• Ohashi, J., Togari, H., & Takii, T. (1991). The distance covered during matches of the world class soccer players (Japanese). Arts and Sciences, 25, 1-5.
• Owoeye, O.B.A., VanderWey, M.J., & Pike, I. (2020). Reducing injuries in soccer (football): an umbrella review of best evidence across the epidemiological framework for prevention. Sports Med-Open, 26(1), 46.
• Ozaeta, E., Fernández-Lasa, U., Martínez-Aldama, I., Cayero, R., & Castillo, D. (2022). Match physical and physiological response of amateur soccer referees: a comparison between halves and match periods. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(3), 1306.
• Preissler, A. A., Schons, P., Costa, R. R., Reichert, T., Oliveira, H. B., De Vargas, G.D., Ribeiro, F.L., Brito, G.R., Zanella, J.C., Klein, L.M., Denadai, B.S., & Kruel, L.F. (2022). A comparison of the internal and external load demands imposed on professional soccer referees in FIFA's current model of physical test in relation to games. J Sport Med Phys Fit, 62(3), 308-316.
• Preissler, A. A. B., Reichert, T., Schons, P., Costa, R. R., Delevatti, R. S., Denadai, B. S., & Kruel, L. F. M. (2021). External loads of elite soccer referees: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Res Sports Med, 11, 1-15.
• Schneider, C., Hanakam, F., Wiewelhove, T., Döweling, A., Kellmann, M., Meyer, T., Pfeiffer, M., & Ferrauti, A. (2018). Heart rate monitoring in team sports-a conceptual framework for contextualizing heart rate measures for training and recovery prescription. Front Physiol, 31, 9639.
• Selmi, O., Ouergui, I., Muscella, A., My, G., Marsigliante, S., Nobari, H., Suzuki, K., & Bouassida, A. (2022). Monitoring psychometric states of recovery to improve performance in soccer players: a brief review. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(15), 9385.
• Silva, L. D. L., de Souza Vale, R. G., & Neves, E. B. (2023). Hemodynamic and motion demands of soccer referees: a comparison between series A and B of the State Championship of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Archivos de Medicina del Deporte, 40(4), 222-228.
• Silva, L. L., Godoy, E. S., Neves, E. B., Vale, R., & Hall-López, J.A (2019). Heart rate and the distance performed by the soccer referees during matches: A systematic review. Archivos de Medicina del Deporte, 36(1), 36-42.
• Stølen, T., , Chamari, K., , Castagna, C., & Wisløff, U. (2005) Physiology of soccer: an update. Sports Med, 35, 501-536.
• Tessitore, A., Cortis, C., Meeusen, R., & Capranica, L. (2007). Power performance of soccer referees before, during and after official matches. J Strength Cond Res, 21, 1183–1187.
• Vieira, C. M. A., Costa, E. C., & Aoki, M. S. (2010). Does the level of physical fitness affect the performance of the soccer referee? Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte, 24(4), 445-452.
• Weston, M., Castagna, C., Impellizzeri, F.M., Bizzini, M., Williams, A. M., & Gregson, W. (2012) Science and medicine applied to soccer refereeing: an update. Sports Med, 42, 615-31.
• Weston, M., Castagna, C., Impellizzeri, F. M., Rampinini, E., & Abt G. (2007). Analysis of physical match performance in English Premier League soccer referees with particular reference to first half and player work rates. J Sci Med Sport, 10(6), 390-397.
• Weston, M., Castagna, C., Impellizzeri, F. M., Rampinini, E., & Breivik, S. (2010). Ageing and physical match performance in English Premier League soccer referees. J Sci Med Sport, 13, 96-100.
• Yousefian, F., Zafar, A., Peres, P., Brito, J., Travassos, B., & Figueiredo, P. (2023). Intensity demands and peak performance of elite soccer referees during match play. J Sci Med Sport, 26(1), 58-62.