TRAINING PROGRAMME

12-Week Training Programme

12-Week Training Programme

Summary

The major aim of this study was to examine the physical fitness of elite soccer referees in relation to their age. A secondary aim was to assess the population criterion validity of the 12 min running test (12 MRT) against aerobic-fitness laboratory tests. Participants were 45 soccer referees (age 35.5 ± 4.4 years, height 178.3 ± 5.0 cm, body mass 75.1 ± 6.6 kg, body fat 11.3 ± 2.15%, VO2max 54.9 ± 3.9 ml kg-1 min-1) who were enrolled in the Referees Technical Committee of the Royal Soccer Federation. They were divided into three age groups: young (Y, 27-32 years, n = 15), average (A, 33-38 years, n = 17) and old (O, 39-45 years, n = 13). No age-related effects were observed for VO2max, 12 MRT or 200 m sprint performance in either the pooled or grouped data. However, age-related performance decrements were observed for 50 m sprint performance and the ventilatory threshold (VT) running speed. Twelve MRT performance was moderately related to VO2max (r = 0.46, P = 0.002), VT (km h-1) (r = 0.49, P < 0.001), and peak treadmill velocity (PTV) (r = 0.60, P < 0.001). The results showed that older elite-level referees may be able to limit the expected age-related performance decrements in both aerobic and anaerobic performance usually reported for sedentary people. Additionally, these results show that older referees are able to reach physical fitness levels that have been suggested to be appropriate for coping with match demands.

This study will be conducted for the client Andy. Following are the details of the client. We will also proposed a 12-week Health plan for the client in order to make him eligible for the desired task he want to perform.

Client

Name: Andy

Pre-participation data

Age

35

PAR-Q status: no referral required

Resting HR

76bpm

Blood Pressure: 130/86

Height:

1.73m

Weight: 78kg

Test data

Hand grip

42kg (R); 39 (L)

1RM (bench press): ratio 1.1

Chester Step Test

27mls/O2/kg/min

Sit and reach: 27 cms

Skin fold

18%BF

Introduction

Recent studies have shown that soccer refereeing is a physically challenging exercise mainly stressing aerobic metabolism.1 During a competitive match, elite-level soccer referees can cover a mean distance of 11.5 km (range 9-14 km),  attaining 85-95% of their estimated and individual maximal heart rate.  It has also been reported that elite-level soccer referees work at 68% of their VO2maxwhen officiating friendly matches. These physiological stresses imposed on the elite soccer referee are similar to that endured by mid-field soccer players. However, despite the similarities in general physiological demands, there are several aspects of referees' performance that distinguish their match requirements from that of the players.

For instance, officials are not directly involved with the ball and cannot be substituted during the match. Professional soccer referees are usually older than professional soccer players. For example, the mean age of referees officiating at the Euro 2000 Championship was reported to be 40.2 ± 3.9 years compared to the mean age of the players competing in the championship: 24.5 ± 2.5 years [http://www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/; accessed 25th July 2002]. Further analysis of the ages of the world's best referees who officiated the quarter-finals at the 2002 World Cup shows that the mean age was 41 ± 4 years (n = 8). Paradoxically, these data show that elite soccer referees officiate at the highest level at an average age when most soccer players have retired from competition (i.e., >40 years). The difference in the mean age of players and referees may exist ...