Foot and Soccer Referees': A Pilot Study Searching "Performance" Throughout Prevention.

Luigi Gianturco,Vincenzo Gianturco,Maurizio Turiel,Bruno D Bodini,Fabrizio E Pregliasco,Antonio Serafin,Marta Cascio

doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01009

Abstract

Soccer refereeing is a “not-conventional” sport in which aerobic workload is prevalent. Along the years, several studies have attempted to define best markers of referees’ performance. Many studies focused their attention on field tests and their relationship with aerobic power. Instead, in this study, starting by a medical assessment satisfying the FIFA 11+ criteria for injuries prevention, we have investigated the foot of soccer referees and we have also wanted to find possible and/or unexpected improvements in performance. As performance marker, we have used the referral field test for soccer referees that is internationally validated and known as Yo-Yo test (YYiR1). While standardized foot posture index (FPI) questionnaire was used for screening foot referees conditions (40 young, all men by sex, with mean age 23.47 ± 4.36). Analyzing collected data, we have demonstrated by means of Read–Cressie Chi square test that neutral FPI is an important favor item affecting YYiR1 results. Further studies will be necessary in order to confirm our pilot investigation.

Highlights

The international governing body of soccer, well-known as FIFA, has been launching since 2014 the 11+ program for promoting health and prevention throughout football playing
As Chi square test revealed, there was an important relationship between foot and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (YYiR1) performances (p < 0.001)
As written in Section “Introduction,” there are not any studies about foot and refereeing and relatively few data are available about FIFA pre-competition medical assessments (PCMA) in soccer referees (Bizzini et al, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

The international governing body of soccer, well-known as FIFA, has been launching since 2014 the 11+ program for promoting health and prevention throughout football (and/or soccer) playing. The 11+ try to prevent injuries, especially for foot and ankle (Barengo et al, 2014). We can found several studies about foot and/or ankle in soccer players (Cain et al, 2007; Sadigursky et al, 2017) but there is lack of sufficient evidence for referees, generally studied for other determinants (Castagna et al, 2007; Weston et al, 2012). It is known that foot posture might influence the function of limb and so play a role in predisposition to overuse injuries (Burns et al, 2005). Most of studies have focused their attention on aerobic indexes such as VO2max (Castagna and D’ottavio, 2001; Gianturco et al, 2017) because of refereeing mainly involves aerobic metabolism (Casajus and Castagna, 2007)

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Discussion

Conclusion