Sweat Test and Electrolyte Losses in 56 Professional Soccer Referees, during a Regular Training Session

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quantify the volume and composition of sweat loss in 56professional soccer referees (from México), three of them were women, during a regular training session, having available fluids to drink during the session. METHODS: The 56 professional soccer referees, were weighed nude before and after the training session and also a urine sample were collected before to see the hydration status when arriving for training. The weather conditions were measured every 30 minutes during the session. All of them had free access to sport drink and water so they drank ad libitum. We labelled every bottle of water and sport drink with the referees names so can drink only from their own bottles. Patches to collect sweat were positioned on eleven referees before training on the right forearm and retired at 45 min. after the session started. RESULTS: The weather conditions were DT 23.21+ −6°c, HR 39.08 + −6.09%.The average heat stress index was 31.9. The urine sample density before the training session was: 1.018 (1.003–1.029); The Initial weigth was: 73.58 (58.280–91.920); The total weight loss:1. 110 (0.350–3.900 kgs); The percentage of dehydration: 1.5% (0.4–6.1%); The sweat Rate was: 1.32 (0.75–3.0 Liters/hour); The fluid Intake: 0.8 (0.089–1.65) lts./hour; The water intake was 0.263(0.089−.038 Liters/hour); The sport drink intake: 0.618 (0.204–1.236) Liters/hour… and related to electrolytes (11 Referees) the results were: Sodium Loss:49.7 Mmols. (19.9–79.7) and the Potasium Loss: 5.05 Mmols (3.8–6.3). CONCLUSIONS: We can see that with the heat stress index that we had during the training session there was one referee with 6.1% dehydration showing no symptoms of heat stroke or heat illness. The question is how can a referee rule on a soccer game with 6.1 % of dehydration?, The physical aspect can have a great influence on referee performance because even being dehydrated a referee can jog, jump, etc., but taking the mental right arbitral decision, simply is not possible. We have to give also enough fluids to the referees not only to the players to avoid dehydration so they can carry out their job without any physical or mental detriment. Acknowledge.-Thanks to Gatorade Sports Science Institute for supporting this study.