Key result
Series A soccer matches required significantly higher hemodynamic intensity at the exact moment of decision making compared to series B matches, with a mean heart rate of 166.03 bpm versus 157.04 bpm.
Why the study?
Do hemodynamic and motion demands differ between referees officiating series A versus series B soccer matches?
Cross-Sectional (n=10)
Do hemodynamic and motion demands differ between referees officiating series A versus series B soccer matches?
Absolute Event Rate: 166.03% vs 157.04%
p-value: p=<0.001
Soccer referees experience higher hemodynamic and motion demands during series A matches compared to series B matches.
Series A matches impose higher hemodynamic demands on referees than series B; observational data leaves open effects on decision quality.
Introduction: Soccer referees need excellent conditioning to withstand the physical and psychological demands of games. Objective: To compare the hemodynamic variables, speed, cadence, and distance coursed of referees during soccer games of series A and B in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Material and method: The total number of decisions made during the 10 soccer matches evaluated was 1,224 observable decisions of 10 professional Soccer referees (one per soccer match: 5 in series A and 5 in series B). We used a frequency meter (Polar, model V800, PolarFlow software) and video footage of the games (Sony, model PXW-Z150, 4K). The moments considered were: the decision, 15 seconds that preceded it, and the period from the beginning of each stage to each decision. Were studied the hemodynamic [average heat rate (mean HR), maximum heart rate (HRmax), and minimum heart rate (HRmin)] and motion variables [average speed (Vmed), maximum speed (Vmax), average cadence (cadencemed), maximum cadence (cadencemax), minimum cadence (cadencemin), and distance covered]. Descriptive measures were used to present the results of the variables studied and the Student’s T-Test for independent samples to test the study hypotheses. The significance level was set at 95% (P <0.05). Results: The matches of series A had a greater number of interventions and greater hemodynamic load at the exact moment of the decision than those of series B. significantly (P <0.05): mean HR, HRmax, HRmin, Vmax, Cadencemed, and Cadencemax in series A were higher compared to series B. In the 15 seconds before the decisions: mean HR, HRmax, and HRmin in series A were higher than in series B, and Vmed in series B was higher in relation to series A. At the exact moment of the decisions: mean HR in series A was higher in relation to series B. Conclusion: Referees’ interventions are generally carried out under high hemodynamic pressure. The matches played in the A series require a higher number of interventions and hemodynamic intensity than the matches in the series B under high hemodynamic pressure, other psychological factors may play a role; however, this needs to be studied in greater depth.
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Silva et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (Soccer referees) (n=10). Series A matches vs. Series B matches was evaluated on Mean heart rate at the exact moment of decision making (p=<0.001). Series A soccer matches required significantly higher hemodynamic intensity at the exact moment of decision making compared to series B matches, with a mean heart rate of 166.03 bpm versus 157.04 bpm.
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