A low-cost method for estimating energy expenditure during soccer refereeing

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Accurate assessment of energy expenditure is crucial for understanding the physiological demands of sports officiating.
• Previous methods for estimating physical activity in soccer referees were often costly or less accessible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply a validated bioenergetics model to data from commercial GPS receivers to estimate energy expenditure in soccer referees.
• To assess physical activity variables such as total distance and metabolically equivalent distance during matches.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-sensitivity global positioning system (GPS) receivers worn by five Italian fifth division soccer referees during 20 matches.
• Applied a bioenergetics model to recorded speed and acceleration data to calculate energy consumption and physical activity metrics.
• Calculated energy consumption, mass-normalized total energy consumption, total distance, and metabolically equivalent distance.

Main Results:

• Average energy consumption per match was 4729 ± 608 kJ.
• Mass-normalized total energy consumption averaged 74 ± 8 kJ·kg(-1).
• Total distance covered was 13,112 ± 1225 m, with a metabolically equivalent distance of 13,788 ± 1151 m.

Conclusions:

• Low-cost GPS devices can effectively estimate energy expenditure during soccer refereeing.
• The developed predictive equation for mass-normalized total energy consumption versus total distance offers insights into the energy demands of soccer referees.