FIFA Test FOR ASSISTANT REFEREES

Fitness test for ASSISTANT Referees (men & women)

Introduction

The official fitness test for football referees consists of two tests.
Test 1, CODA, assesses the assistant referee’s ability to change direction.
Test 2, Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), measures the assistant referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 30m.
Test 3, Interval Test, evaluates the assistant referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walking intervals.
The time between the end of Test 1 and the start of Test 2 should be 2 to 4 minutes maximum.
The time between the end of Test 2 and the start of Test 3 should be 6 to 8 minutes maximum.
Tests must be performed on an athletics track (or a natural/artificial football field if no track is available). Athletic spikes may NOT be worn during the tests. Referees must pass the FIFA Fitness Test at least once a year.
It is recommended that all fitness testing be conducted by a qualified physical instructor. A well-equipped ambulance must be present during the entire testing session.

FIFA-Approved Optional Tests

In addition to the official test, the ‘ARIET’ may be used as a method of assessing the aerobic fitness of assistant referees with the recommended standards.

ASSISTANT referees test

Test 1, CODA (Change of Direction Ability)

1. Electronic timing gates (photocells) should be used to time the CODA. Timing gates should be positioned no higher than 100 cm from the ground. If electronic timing gates are not available, an experienced physical instructor should time each trial using a manual stopwatch.

2. Cones must be set out as illustrated in the diagram below. The distance between A and B is 2 metres. The distance between B and C is 8 metres.

3. Only one timing gate is required for the CODA (A). The ‘start line’ should must be marked out 0.5m before the timing gate (A).

4. Assistant referees should line up at the start with their front foot touching the ‘start line’. Once the test leader signals that the electronic timing gates are set, the assistant referee is free to start.

5. Assistant referees sprint 10 m forward (A to C), 8 m sideways left (C to B), 8 m sideways right (B to C) and 10 m forward (C to A).

6. If an assistant referee falls or trips, they should be given an additional trial.

7. If an assistant referee fails the trial, they should be given an additional trial. If they fail two trials, the match official has failed the test.

Reference times for MEN Assistant Referees:

1. International and category 1: maximum 10.00 seconds per trial

2. Category 2: maximum 10.10 seconds per trial

3. Lower categories: maximum 10.20 seconds per trial

Reference times for WOMEN Assistant Referees:

1. International and category 1: maximum 11.00 seconds per trial

2. Category 2: maximum 11.10 seconds per trial

3. Lower categories: maximum 11.20 seconds per trial

Test 2: Repeated Sprint Ability

1. Timing gates should be positioned no higher than 100 cm from the ground. If electronic timing gates are not available, an experienced physical instructor should time each trial using a manual stopwatch.

2. The ‘start’ gate should must be placed at 0m and the ‘finish’ gate at 30m. The ‘start line’ should must be marked out 1.5m before the ‘start’ gate.

3. Assistant referees should line up at the start with their front foot touching the ‘start line’. Once the test leader signals that the electronic timing gates are set, the assistant referee is free to start.

4. Assistant referees should receive a maximum of 30 seconds recovery between each of the 5 X 30m sprints. During their recovery, assistant referees must walk back to the start.

5. If an assistant referee falls or trips, they should be given an extra trial (one trial = 1 x 30 m).

6. If an assistant referee fails one trial out of the five, they should be given a sixth trial immediately after the fifth trial. If they fail two trials out of six, the match official has failed the test.

Reference times for MEN Assistant Referees:

1. International and category 1: must complete each trial in a maximum 4.70 seconds per trial

2. Category 2: must complete each trial in a maximum 4.80 seconds per trial

3. Lower categories: must complete each trial in a maximum of 4.90 seconds per trial

Reference times for WOMEN Assistant Referees:

1. International and category 1: must complete each trial in a maximum 5.10 seconds per trial

2. Category 2: must complete each trial in a maximum 5.20 seconds per trial

3. Lower categories: must complete each trial in a maximum 5.30 seconds per trial

Test 3: Interval Test

1. Referees must complete 40 x 75m run / 25m walk intervals. This equates to 4,000m or 10 laps of a 400m athletics track. The pace is dictated by the audio file and reference times are set in accordance with the referee’s category. If an audio file is not available, an experienced physical instructor should use a stopwatch and whistle.

2. Referees must start from a standing position. They must not start before the whistle. To ensure that referees do not start early, assistant test leaders should be positioned at each start line to control the start. A flag may be used to block the lane until the whistle has sounded. On the whistle, the flag should be dropped, allowing the referees to start running.

3. At the end of each run, each referee must enter the ‘walking area’ before the whistle. The walking area is marked out with a line 1.5m before and 1.5m behind the 75m line.

4. If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time, they should receive a clear warning from the test leader. If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time for a second occasion, they should be stopped by the test leader and informed that they have failed the test.

5. It is recommended that the test be run in groups comprising no more than six referees. It is possible to have four groups running the test simultaneously (see below), meaning a total of 24 referees can be tested at once. Each group should be allocated with a test leader who should monitor their group closely throughout the test.

Reference times for MEN Assistant Referees:

1. International and category 1: maximum 15 seconds per 75m run and 20 seconds per 25m walk

2. Category 2: maximum of 15 seconds per 75m run 22 seconds per 25m walk

3. Lower categories: maximum 15 seconds per 75m run and 24 seconds per 25m walk

Reference times for WOMEN Assistant Referees:

1. International and category 1: maximum 17 seconds per 75m run and 22 seconds per 25m walk

2. Category 2: maximum 17 seconds per 75m run and 24 seconds per 25m walk

3. Lower categories: maximum 17 seconds per 75m run and 26 seconds per 25m walk

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