Enhancing Untrained Football Referees’ Strength, Speed, and Endurance through A Mix-training Programme

Abstract

Given the distance, energy consumption and football referees’ physical challenge during matches, it is crucial that their speed, endurance, and strength should be enhanced. It is in this perspective that this One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design quasi-experimental research, aims to (a) validate a mixed-training program to enhance Primus League football referees’ speed, endurance, and strength. The research also aims to (b) gather evidence on the program reliability and effectiveness. The sample consisted of 15 Primus League football referees (n=15) who attended a five-week training program with sessions held 3 times per week. During an expert panel, eight Fitness and Vitality Enhancement (FVE) professionals validated the program and later the replicability estimation indicated the training program related tests’ high reliability (ICC=0.77). The normality assumption was verified, and the results obtained through paired-sample t test, with related sig.<0.025, indicated that the intervention program effectiveness, except the speed component for which there was not enough evidence of the referees’ improvement. With bigger sample sizes, it is recommended that the relation between the referees’ age, body mass, and speed be established to shed light on the reason of speed component statistical insignificance.