Football Match Officials Do Not Attain Maximal Sprinting Speed during Matches

The aims of this study were, first, to analyse the differences between referees and assistant referees in 20and 30-metre straight line sprinting test performance and in the maximum speeds registered in football matches; and, second, to analyse the differences between the maximum speeds registered in matches and in the straight line sprinting test. Twenty referees from the Spanish Third Football Division participated in this study. Participants were classified as field referees (FR; n=12, age=30.0±6.7 years; body height=178.1±6.6 cm; body mass=73.7±8.3 kg; BMI=23.2±1.8 kg·m-2) and assistant referees (AR; n=8, age=26.0±7.9 years; body height=177.2±7.3 cm; body mass=75.1±8.8 kg; BMI=23.9±3.1 kg·m-2). The maximum speed of each referee during an official competition match (Vmax match) and during a straight line sprint test (SLST) (Vmax 30 m sprint) was recorded using a global positioning system (GPS). The results show that no significant differences were found between FR and AR in the SLST (p>.05, d=.13-.14). However, large effect sizes were found in the maximum speeds recorded in matches (p<.076, d=.96). Furthermore, the maximum speeds of the FR and AR in the matches were significantly lower than the maximum speeds registered in the 30-m SLST (p<.01, d=2.32-2.51). Bearing in mind that field referees and assistant referees do not achieve the maximum speed registered in a 30-metre sprint test in actual football matches, the performance in such accreditation tests does not reflect the characteristics of actions they perform during matches.