Physiological Characteristics of Greek Soccer Referees of Professional and Amateur Categories

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the physiological characteristics of Greek soccer referees in professional and amateur categories. Material and methods: Twenty Greek soccer referees (10 amateur, 10 professional level) underwent laboratory evaluation to determine anthropometrical characteristics, cardiorespiratory endurance parameters, anaerobic alactic power, maximal power for the knee extensors and flexors, leg explosive power and optical stimulus reaction time. Results: Mean values of body weight (78,22 ± 6.87 v 90,5 ± 15,66), relative lower limb power (10,3 ± 0,85 v 9,47 ± 1), peak oxygen intake (54,96 ± 4,88 v 45,79 ± 4,58), speed of peak oxygen intake (16,54 ± 0,88 v 14,06 ± 1,55), speed of anaerobic threshold (12,4 ± 0,81 v 10,6 ± 1,13), maximum power of right leg knee extensors (356,2 ± 62,7 v 421,3 ± 84,4) and left leg knee flexors were different (276,8 ± 39,48 v 308,1 ± 37,51) (p < 0.05) between professional and amateur referees. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed for mean age (31,4 ± 3,66 26,7 ± 6,11), height (179,8 ± 4,96 v 181,00 ± 4,50), % fat (17,51 ± 2,36 v 20,39 ± 5,4), flexibility (18,6 ± 5,82 v 13,4 ± 9,96), anaerobic alactic power (804,8 ± 93,4 v 846 ± 97,8), maximal leg frequency (181,3 ± 20,65 v 180,7 ± 11,59), leg explosive force (31,4 ± 4,33 v 30,48 ± 2,68), reaction time (0,24 ± 0,03 v 0,24 ± 0,03), maximum heart rate (184,4 ± 11,44 v 188,2 ± 10,11) maximal blood lactate concentration (9,62 ± 2,71 v 9,47 ± 2,65) maximum left leg knee extending power (369,3 ± 74,34 v 422,7 ± 97,24) as well as right leg flexors (274,9 ± 26,13 v 298,1 ± 51) and the relative power of left and right lower limb extensors and flexors(4,55 ± 0,70 v 4,66 ± 0,63), (4,73 ± 0,84 v 4,67 ± 0,77), (3,52 ± 0,29 v 3,32 ± 0,48), (3,55 ± 0,49 v 3,47 ± 0,53) respectively. Conclusions: Professional-level referees compared to referees who manage games in amateur categories, mainly present increased cardiorespiratory endurance parameters. This difference can be attributed to the long-term systematic preparation and their frequent periodic fitness level examinations by the federation with fitness tests that are also a criterion of failure from this level of refereeing. Article visualizations: