IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING FITNESS           

Refereeing is basically an endurance activity, which means you must have the stamina (aerobic fitness) to be able to do the necessary running for 90 or perhaps 120 minutes. You also need to be quick in your movements and reactions so you can adjust according to the location of the players and the ball, and take decisions rapidly and decisively. External conditions such as the weather or poor state of the pitch can increase the demands made upon you.

Stamina can be improved in many ways, but the best activity to perform is continuous steady running. You can use a bike, a rowing machine or the swimming pool as an alternative to improve your fitness, and to add variety, but the majority of your training should be based upon running.

STARTING TO GET FIT         Take me back to the top of this page

Use your Fitness Awareness Profile as a guide to how much training you should do to start with. If a few of your activities were in the 'C' category including activities 11 and 12, you should take care not to do too much too soon.

Tip - When you first go out for a run use time rather than distance as a target. When you first go out for a run use time rather than distance as a target.

i.e. Run for 10 minutes rather than run round the block.

Also:

Run away from your starting point for 5 minutes - turn - and run back again. This means, if you are exhausted after 9 minutes you are nearly back home instead of 9 minutes away!

Gradually increase the time for your outward run until you can achieve 10 minutes in that direction. When starting to exercise follow these guidelines:

• Build up slowly until you can run continuously for 20 minutes.
• Run at a speed that increases your heart rate to between 70-90% of maximum. (See chart below).
• Check heart rate by taking the pulse rate for 15 seconds and then multiplying by 4. Adjust speed of running accordingly.
• Alternatively, perform the conversation test - you should be able to hold a short conversation with your training partner without becoming totally out of breath. If this is not possible, the exercise intensity should be decreased, even if this means walking for a while. Conversely, if conversation is too easy, the exercise intensity should be increased.

Aim for three sessions a week until you are ready to referee.

Remember - Even if you are just going for a short run the body still needs to be prepared. Complete the stretching exercises before you start running. Use the first few minutes of your run as a warm up by jogging slowly before increasing your pace. At the end of your run repeat the stretching exercises. This is particularly important if you have not trained for some time as it will help to prevent muscle stiffness.

When you can run continuously for 20 minutes you can now proceed to the next stage.

HEART RATE AS A GUIDE TO WORK RATE (Chart)      Take me back to the top of this page

 STANDARD FITNESS PROGRAMME             Take me back to the top of this page

This programme is aimed at those of you who wish to maintain a level of fitness suitable for officiating in local football.

Training Sessions

A
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30 minutes steady paced run at conversational pace
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30 minutes steady paced run at conversational pace
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

B
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
10 minutes fast paced running (you should be running at a pace where you cannot maintain a conversation and you should feel "puffed" at the end of this run)
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
10 minutes fast paced running (you should be running at a pace where you cannot maintain a conversation and you should feel "puffed" at the end of this run)
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

When you can comfortably run for 20-30 minutes you can begin to include some referee specific training together with some interval training, which is ideal for you as it mimics the demands of refereeing. Interval training stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles and builds up your endurance and recovery level of your body.

Examples of some interval training sessions are included below.

C
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Interval Training
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching

Interval Training

• Walk 50 metres (width of a football pitch)
• Jog 70 metres, sprint 10 metres, jog 20 metres (length of a football pitch)
• Walk the width of the pitch
• Jog 70 metres, sprint 10 metres, jog 20 metres
• Repeat 10 x laps

5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

D

This session involves running 4 miles in total

5 minutes general body warm up
Stretching
Run the first half mile as a steady jog as a further warm up
The next 3 miles should be run slightly quicker and should include 10 bursts of mixed distances - 30 metres, 200 metres, 50 metres, 30 metres, 150 metres etc. - sprinting the shorter distances and fast running the longer distances
The last half mile acts as a slow jog warm down
Stretching

This session can be performed around a football pitch or park, over countryside or along the street using lamp posts as distance guides for the sprints and faster runs.

 E

This session needs to be performed around a 50 metre square (i.e. half a football pitch).

Jog 3 laps to warm up
Stretching
Jog one 50 metre length - rest for 6 seconds
Run backwards for 20 metres, turn and sprint 10 metres, slow down to a walk during the next 20 metres
Jog 50 metres - rest for 6 seconds
Run backwards for 20 metres, turn and sprint 10 metres, slow down to a walk during the next 20 metres
Repeat for 10 laps
Jog 3 laps to warm down
Stretching

Advice - Aim for 3 sessions a week - refereeing a match would count as one session, but always try and include at least one training session even if you are refereeing more than one game during the week. Aim for 3 sessions a week - refereeing a match would count as one session, but always try and include at least one training session even if you are refereeing more than one game during the week.

Tip - Vary your type of training by choosing a "running" based session on one occasion and an "interval" type session on another. Vary your type of training by choosing a "running" based session on one occasion and an "interval" type session on another.

INTERMEDIATE FITNESS PROGRAMME            Take me back to the top of this page

This programme is aimed at all officials wishing to gain promotion and/or referee up to and including Supply League level.

Training Sessions

A
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
20 minutes fast paced running (you should be running at a pace where you cannot maintain a conversation and you should feel fatigued at the end of this run)
5-10 minutes to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
20 minutes fast paced running (you should be running at a pace where you cannot maintain a conversation and you should feel fatigued at the end of this run)
5-10 minutes to warm down
Stretching

B
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30 minutes steady run at conversational pace, to include 10 bursts of short fast sprints over distances from 10 to 50 metres, and 5 bursts of fast running over distances from 150-250 metres
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30 minutes steady run at conversational pace, to include 10 bursts of short fast sprints over distances from 10 to 50 metres, and 5 bursts of fast running over distances from 150-250 metres
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

C
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
3 minutes hard running - but at a pace you can maintain for 3 minutes
3 minutes slow jogging
Repeat hard running and slow jogging 3 times but on the last time slow jog for 5-10 minutes to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
3 minutes hard running - but at a pace you can maintain for 3 minutes
3 minutes slow jogging
Repeat hard running and slow jogging 3 times but on the last time slow jog for 5-10 minutes to warm down
Stretching

D
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
60 seconds burst (80% max. speed) followed by 60 seconds jogging
30 seconds burst (90% max. speed) followed by 90 seconds jogging
10 seconds burst at full sprinting speed. followed by 50 seconds jogging
Repeat this sequence twice
10 minutes jogging
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
60 seconds burst (80% max. speed) followed by 60 seconds jogging
30 seconds burst (90% max. speed) followed by 90 seconds jogging
10 seconds burst at full sprinting speed. followed by 50 seconds jogging
Repeat this sequence twice
10 minutes jogging
Stretching

E
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Interval Training - Run these distances as fast as you can
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Interval Training - Run these distances as fast as you can

• 50 metres (20 seconds rest)
• 100 metres (30 seconds rest)
• 150 metres (40 seconds rest)
• 200 metres (60 seconds rest)
• 150 metres (40 seconds rest)
• 100 metres (30 seconds rest)
• 50 metres (20 seconds rest)
• 5 minutes slow jogging

Repeat sequence
Stretching

F
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Sprinting
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Sprinting

• 10 metres sprint, slow down to walk 10 metres,
• 20 metres sprint, walk slowly back to your starting point
• Repeat x 10

5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

G
Use session E from the standard fitness programme but repeat for 15 laps.

Advice - Aim for 3 sessions a week - refereeing a match would count as one session, but always try and include at least one training session even if you are refereeing more than one game during the week. Aim for 3 sessions a week - refereeing a match would count as one session, but always try and include at least one training session even if you are refereeing more than one game during the week.

Tip - Vary your type of training by choosing a "running" based session on one occasion and an "interval / sprint" type session on another. Vary your type of training by choosing a "running" based session on one occasion and an "interval / sprint" type session on another.

ADVANCED FITNESS PROGRAMME           Take me back to the top of this page

This programme is aimed at all referees officiating in senior football, from Contributory League level upwards.

Training Sessions

A
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30 minutes fast paced running (you should be running at a pace where you cannot maintain a conversation and you should feel fatigued at the end of this run)
5-10 minutes to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30 minutes fast paced running (you should be running at a pace where you cannot maintain a conversation and you should feel fatigued at the end of this run)
5-10 minutes to warm down
Stretching

B
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30-40 minutes steady run at conversational pace, to include 12 bursts of short fast sprints over distances from 10 to 50 metres, and 6 bursts of fast running over distances from 150-250 metres
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
30-40 minutes steady run at conversational pace, to include 12 bursts of short fast sprints over distances from 10 to 50 metres, and 6 bursts of fast running over distances from 150-250 metres
5-10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

C
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
4 x 60 seconds running at a fairly fast pace with 200 metres jogging between each effort
3 minutes jogging
Repeat 4 x 60 seconds running
10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
4 x 60 seconds running at a fairly fast pace with 200 metres jogging between each effort
3 minutes jogging
Repeat 4 x 60 seconds running
10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

Note: the 60 seconds of running can include turns and changes in direction: the 60 seconds of running can include turns and changes in direction

D
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
4 x 5 minutes fairly hard running with 3 minutes jogging between each run
10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

Note: the 5 minutes of running can include turns and changes in direction the 5 minutes of running can include turns and changes in direction

E
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Sprint Training -

• sprints at 70% - 80% of maximum pace
• 10 seconds running
• 15 seconds rest / recovery
• Repeat x 6
• Rest for 2 minutes
• Repeat procedure x 6 (36 sprints in total)

10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

F
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Sprints - Maximum Pace -
5-10 minutes jogging to warm up
Stretching
Sprints - Maximum Pace -

• sprint 10 metres - walk back to start
• sprint 20 metres - walk back to start
• sprint 30 metres - walk back to start
• sprint 40 metres - walk back to start
• sprint 30 metres - walk back to start
• sprint 20 metres - walk back to start
• sprint 10 metres - walk back to start
• REPEAT WHOLE SEQUENCE

10 minutes jogging to warm down
Stretching

Advice - Aim for 3 sessions a week - refereeing a match would count as one session, but always try and include at least one training session even if you are refereeing more than one game during the week. Aim for 3 sessions a week - refereeing a match would count as one session, but always try and include at least one training session even if you are refereeing more than one game during the week.

Tip - Vary your type of training by choosing a "running" based session on one occasion and an "interval / sprint" type session on another. Vary your type of training by choosing a "running" based session on one occasion and an "interval / sprint" type session on another.