Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Declan GambleSport Physiologist

Sports Institute NI / University of Ulster

Referee analysis using GPS tracking and heart rate

monitoring

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

1.Why is fitness important for referees?

2.What training are referees currently doing?

• Intensity of the game is increasing

• Keep up with play

• Enhance performance

• Maintain concentration

• Delay the onset of fatigue

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

3.What type of fitness programmes do referees require?

a) What type of movements does a referee perform?

a) How much distance does a referee cover in a game?

a) How many times does a referee sprint in a game?

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Ulster Minor Football Final 2004

Croke Park: Derry vs Tyrone

Referee:

Pauric Hughes

(Ard Mhacha)

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Background to the study

UK Sport technical team UK Sport technical team

Athlete tracking systemAthlete tracking system

Based around Based around GPS technologyGPS technology

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Declan GambleSport Scientist

Sports Institute NI / University of Ulster

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Declan GambleSport Scientist

Sports Institute NI / University of Ulster

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Background to the study

UK Sport technical team UK Sport technical team

Athlete tracking systemAthlete tracking system

Based around Based around GPS technologyGPS technology

Ulster Council approvalUlster Council approval

Referee kindly agreedReferee kindly agreed

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Set-up and limitations

Referee had to wear unitReferee had to wear unit

11cm x 5cm x 3cm11cm x 5cm x 3cm

Clear skyClear sky

Battery life of 2 hrsBattery life of 2 hrs

Not waterproofNot waterproof

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Performance data

SpeedSpeed

DistanceDistance

Heart rateHeart rate

PositionPosition

AltitudeAltitude

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Analysis of referee movement patterns

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Different movements

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Make decisions

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

V –cut high intensity running

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

GPS and heart rate results

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

GPSports Analysis

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Summary of results

The referee…..

a) Exercised at an average heart rate of ~ 164 bpm,

b)Covered a total distance of ~ 8.2 km, and

c) Performed ~ 80 sprints, lasting from 1-10 sec.

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

What type of training/fitness programme?

Training programmes need to…..

1. Reflect the physical demands of refereeing,

and

2. Be specific to the movements patterns performed during games.

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

How?

1) Refereeing games represents the best training stimulus for referees!

Alternatively, include;

2) ‘Fartlek’ running,

3) Intermittent shuttle running, or

4) Interval sets.

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Conclusion

• Refereeing imposes significant physical demands on referees.

• These physical demands are probably not being met by ‘traditional training’ practices.

• Training programmes need to be designed to simulate the physical demands of games.

Ulster Council Coaching and Games Development Symposium 2004

Questions?