A Study of Work Rate, Heart Rate and Blood Lactate of Soccer Elite Referees in 8th Iranian Premier League

Attention to the physical and physiological needs of a soccer referee plays an important role in his performance in a match as in order to regulate the rules of the game, the referee should track the event and players by moving inside the pitch continually with no restriction. The aim of this research was to study the variations in workload, heart rate and blood lactate in elite soccer referees of eighth soccer premier league of Iran in first and second halves (first halves of two mid seasons and second halves of first and second mid seasons). 10 elite soccer referees of soccer premier league (international degree, age: 35.5 3.97 yrs, height: 180.1 4.48 cm, weight: 78.18 8.4 kg) in eighth premier league were selected by available non-random sampling method. All subjects were examined in two games (each mid season contained one game). Tests included measuring workload, heart rate and blood lactate in first and second halves (first halves of two mid seasons and second halves of first and second mid seasons). For data analysis, paired t test was used. The results showed no significant difference between workload and blood lactate of first and second halves (P>0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference in heart rate between first and second halves (P>0.05). It seems that workload and competition level, intensity and speed are the most important environmental factors influencing referees’ physiological responses and covered distance. Analysis of eighth premier league results indicated the low workload of current judges and high heart rate on the other hand which showed a lack of proper physical fitness, especially low aerobic fitness, of soccer elite referees of Iran premier league.