Elite futsal refereeing: activity profile and physiological demands

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 ± 5.1 years, 173 ± 5 cm, and 73.2 ± 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 ± 218 (± SD). Total distance covered, high-intensity running (HIR), sprinting (SPR), and sideways running were 5.89 ± 0.56, 0.96 ± 0.29, 0.09 ± 0.07, and 0.91 ± 0.46 km, respectively. The number of HIR and SPR bouts was 129 ± 41 and 9 ± 8, respectively, with a mean duration of ∼1.4 seconds. Blood lactate content was 1.0 ± 0.3 and 1.5 ± 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.