{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T15:08:17Z","timestamp":1780499297511,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,14]],"date-time":"2024-10-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1728864000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":13,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Professional Game Match Officials Limited"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,27]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>This case study reports the real-world practicalities of implementing a mixed-methods heat acclimation (HA) programme before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>One male English soccer referee (age: 44 years; height: 1.82\u2009m; body mass: 76.0\u2009kg) who had officiated professionally for over 17 years and had over 10 years\u2019 experience officiating in European and international matches undertook an 11-session HA programme over 22 days. On days 1 and 22, a 30\u2009min fixed-intensity heat tolerance test (9 km.h<jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>, 2% gradient, 40\u00b0C, 40% relative humidity) was performed, and physiological and perceptual responses were measured. A mixed-methods HA approach was used, including environmental chamber isothermic training, post-temperate training saunas and hot water immersion.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Compared with the pre-test, peak core temperature reduced by 0.40\u00b0C (38.4 vs 38.0\u00b0C; minimal detectable change (MDC) = 0.34\u00b0C), peak skin temperature reduced by 0.5\u00b0C (36.7 vs 36.2\u00b0C; MDC=0.28\u00b0C) and peak heart rate reduced by 5 b\u00b7min<jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup> (167 vs. 162 b\u00b7min<jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>; MDC=4 b\u00b7min<jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>) in the post-test. In the post-test, the sweat rate increased by 17% (1.94 vs 2.27\u2009L.h<jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>; MDC=0.42\u2009L.h<jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>). Peak thermal sensation (7 = \u2018hot\u2019) and the rating of perceived exertion (3 = \u2018moderate\u2019) were unchanged between the tests. However, peak thermal comfort (3 = \u2018slightly uncomfortable\u2019 vs 2 = \u2018uncomfortable\u2019) was rated lower in the post-test.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The HA programme elicited positive physiological but indifferent perceptual responses, highlighting that mixed-methods HA can be implemented when a referee still has officiating, travel and training responsibilities during the HA window.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjsem-2024-002185","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,14]],"date-time":"2024-10-14T22:50:17Z","timestamp":1728946217000},"page":"e002185","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Implementation of a mixed-methods heat acclimation programme in a professional soccer referee before the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar: a case study"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6367-0261","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dale B","family":"Read","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK"},{"name":"Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel T","family":"Evans","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simon","family":"Breivik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Professional Game Match Officials Limited, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joshua D","family":"Elliott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Oliver R","family":"Gibson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease, Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laurence P","family":"Birdsey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, 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