Improving the physical training of soccer referees using athletics

Abstract

Topicality. Soccer is constantly developing and progressing. The speed and intensity of the game are increasing. High dynamics, rapid changes in game situations and the variety of technical and tactical actions of soccer players place increased demands on the physical training of referees. The level of physical fitness of soccer referees significantly affects the quality of refereeing, analysis and evaluation of game moments, the ability to choose the optimal position on the field and overcome fatigue. The development and implementation of programs to improve the physical training of the referee corps is a timely response to the current requirements and challenges of modern soccer. The purpose of the study – to outline the basic principles of the program for improving the physical training of soccer referees using athletics. Materials and methods of the study. The study involved 24 soccer referees of various qualifications aged 19-32. The scientific search was carried out from October 2024 to November 2025. Research methods:

– theoretical: analysis and generalization of scientific information on the research problem; analysis, synthesis, generalization and systematization of theoretical and experimental data; comparison of the obtained experimental data;

– empirical: pedagogical observations; interviews with soccer referees, players, coaches; questionnaires of judges; pedagogical experiment;

– statistical: methods of mathematical processing of experimental data.

Research results. The program was developed taking into account the results of monitoring the motor activity of soccer referees during competitions among amateur and professional teams. The main objective of the program was to optimize the level of physical fitness of soccer referees, increase their perfomance and minimize errors caused by significant physical and psycho-emotional stress. The choice of athletics exercises to improve the physical fitness of referees is due to the fact that their implementation best corresponds to the characteristics of the motor activity of judges during the service of soccer matches. A set of running exercises has been determined that is effective in the training of soccer referees: sprint running for 30–100 m; alternating fast running for 100–200 m and 100 m slow recovery running. It has been established that referees with higher qualifications cover a greater distance during the game with an increase in the intensity of their motor activity. With the increase in the level of competition, there is an increase in the volume of referee movements at different speeds. The most noticeable dynamics are observed in the range from 2.22 to 3 m/s. The main referees who serve matches of professional soccer clubs work most of the game in the zones of 131-150 beats/min (35.2 ± 6.1%) and 151-170 beats/min (40.4 ± 7.9%), which corresponds to work in the aerobic development zone. Conclusions. Improvement of physical training should be carried out taking into account the peculiarities of motor activity of soccer referees during the game in combination with theoretical, methodological, psychological, practical components of the educational and training process. An important tool of physical training of soccer referees are athletic exercises, the use of which contributes to the development of general and special endurance, speed, speed-strength and coordination abilities, which are necessary for high-quality service of competitions.