Physical Demands of Assistant Referees
Assistant Referees play a key role in monitoring the touchline, observing offsides, signalling kicks at goal, and supporting the Referee on key decisions. It is crucial that Assistant Referees keep up with play to ensure optimal positioning along the touchline.
The table below outlines the match demands of elite Rugby Union Assistant Referees. Assistant Referees tend to cover lower total distances and engage in less high-speed running compared to the Referee. A significant portion of the movement profile of Assistant Referees involves lateral movements, such as lateral shuffles, to monitor the play while moving up and down the touchline. Referees and Assistant Referees tend to have a similar number of accelerations and decelerations during a game, outlining the key role Assistant Referees have in keeping up with play, especially during line breaks and high-intensity phases of play.
Match Demands of Elite Rugby Union Assistant Referees
Match Demands |
|
Variable |
Average |
| Total Distance (m) | 4904 |
| Distance per min (m) | 51 |
| High Speed Running (m) | 301 |
| HSR/TD % | 6 |
| Accelerations | 43 |
| Decelerations | 30 |
| Max Speed (m/s) | 7.46 |
|
*Source of data is World Rugby, Elite Referee panel data. *High speed running (m) is defined as distance covered above 5.5 m/s. Accelerations and Decelerations are defined as a count of efforts above a threshold of 3 m/s2. |
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With most Match Officials alternating between Referee and Assistant Referee roles from game to game, it is vital that all Match Officials are prepared for the sideways running demands of Assistant Referees. This can be done through a focus on lateral movement during conditioning and strength training, targeting particular muscle groups such as the hip abductors, adductors and gluteal musculature.