Time Motion Analysis of Iranian Elite Soccer Referees During Actual Match Play

Background & The purpose of this study is to conduct a time- motion analysis of Iranian elite soccer referees during actual games during 2007-2008 seasons. Ten male elite soccer referees (Age; 36. 23±2. 24 years، Height; 180. 1± 4/48 cm، body mass: 78. 18 ± 8. 4 kg، fat mass: 19. 38 ± 3. 3 percent BMI; 23. 98 ± 1. 53 kg. m-2) participated in the study. Motion analysis data were collected during matches using the Suunto t6 device during 2 stages with 10 week intervals. Paired-samples T-test andWilcoxon test were used to compare the first half and the second half data at P<0. 05 level. The average total distance covered was 7872 m (ranging from6720 to 9910 m) in which no significant differences were observed between the halves (p > 0. 05). Referees، on average، covered 93% of the whole match time at low- intensity activities (standing، walking and jogging)، low speed running and moderate speed running accounted for 5. 9% (ranging from 15. 51 to 0%) and 0. 1% (ranging from 1. 18 to 0%) of the total time respectively. There were no high speed running and sprinting. In conclusion، these results provided important data in helping to develop new training programs based on actual match activities.