Without the mood set up is not possible to keep under the match

17. 12. 2009 22:14:10
 

I have been working as a referee since I was 18 years old. I have been enjoying it since the beginning and have been studying the theory very conscientiously, improving my physical and mental condition. Since then I realized that one of the most important determinants which influence the performance of referee is physical condition. I have got my first knowledge of how to train myself at FTVS UK where I studied for 6 years. At that time there were no books or publications which would be pointed at demands of condition and effective training of referee in Slovakia. That is why I used to train according to my own decisions. 

When I finished studying back home in Slovakia, I moved to Great Britain. I started to work as a referee and personal trainer over here. As a referee at the moment I have reached 4th level. I am assistant in Contributory Leagues in these Conferences - Conference South, Ryman Premier a Rymam  Div. One and I am the referee of Supply league which is the lower league. I had a chance to meet up with fitness trainers who work with referees from Premier League and they showed me the studies which have been taken place by the FA and FIFA past 6 years. The results took my breath away! They completely changed mine and also public opinions for condition training of referees. In general people think that referee is the least fit person on the pitch. This is a complete nonsense. The referee must be prepared much much better than players. The referees are more fit than the best players of the world in many cases.

The following graph/diagram shows the Pulse frequency of the referee during the match. You have to notice the Pulse and its high parameters during all time of the match. Untrained person is able to work with this Pulse for no more than 10 mins while the referee must survive 90 mins plus the stoppage time.
 
The referee must adjust to the tempo of the match. In the following graphs are presented how the condition demands have being changed last 6 years. You must also notice that data of the referees and players in season 2007/2008 are almost same. That is follow from that referees should be in a same physical condition as professional players.
 
The total running distance of referee is exactly the same as the running distance of the players. This data can be little bit tricky as because there is no intensity define. It depends if referee only walks or runs. High Intensity Distance Covered is the data which tells us more about demands of the referring. High Intensity Distance Covered is the run in distance higher than 7.5m per second. When we have a look at the graph is almost the same as the one of the best players of the world as Lampard, Ronaldo, Terry, Gerard, Rooney... That is why the referee must be in the same condition as a player.
In the next graph is represented with the number of sprints taken by referee during the match and the time for regeneration (rest) when referee can have a breath. In both situations it is almost the same with the professional players. The demand of the referee has been doubled last 6 years.
 
In the next graph is presented the movement of the referee on the pitch. As you can see it’s very differential with often changes of the direction, it’s very demanding.
 
After my research these data I have realized that my condition prepare was not bad, but was not effective enough!!! As it is the preparation of present Slovak referees. That is why I have decided that this information and experience will try to practice with the approval of the Commission of the Referee of Slovak Football Association. I have enlisted myself in the group of young referees Talent. I have made a program for them for the winter condition training where I have used all my existing knowledge from abroad. We have started the winter condition training in December with the entry FIFA tests in Banska Bystrica in Stiavnicky. The program was created with the cooperation of the condition trainer of referees SFZ Jan Hianik, also my dissertation leader prof. Kampmiller, granters of the Talent Artur Jakubec and Jozef Marko.

It is all about the referees how well and hard they will work to improve themselves...

Mgr. Boris Žbirka