The effect of morphological characteristics on the physical and physiological performance of Turkish soccer referees and assistant referees

¹ Sport Science Faculty, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
² School of Physical Education and Sports, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey

^a Corresponding author: tuba.kizilet@marmara.edu.tr

Abstract

Physical fitness and physiological status play an important role in the referees’ performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the body structure and morphological characteristics of Turkish Ssccer refereesand assistant referees and to determine the effect of these variables on physical performance. A sample of 158 male referees and 55 asisstant referees (mean age 31.8 ± 4.2 and 37.4 ± 3.3 years)was evaluated. Physical assesment were conducted using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRTL1) and Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) for referees and Active Recovery Intermittent Endurance Test (ARIET) and the RSA for assistant referees. We analyzed heart rate assesments. The measures used to assess morphological characteristics were age, weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), body mass, and fat free mass.The ANOVA test (Tukey test)was used to determine the result. Correlations between the referees’ fitness test performance and their morphological characteristics were examined using Pearson’s correlation (p<0.05). To result of this study, point to the existence of a strong correlation between morphological and physical and physiological characteristics. According to the literature, we found that greater BF and a higher BMI may negatively affect areferee’s running performance.