{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T06:57:32Z","timestamp":1775199452166,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"11","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n          <jats:p>Castagna, C, Bizzini, M, D'Ottavio, S, and Ara\u00fajo P\u00f3voas, SC. Sex differences in aerobic fitness in top-class soccer referees. <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">J Strength Cond Res<\/jats:italic> 32(11): 3216\u20133221, 2018\u2014The aim of this study was to assess the aerobic-fitness differences between male and female top-class soccer field referees (FRs). This with the purpose to provide cutoff values useful for training prescription in female FRs. Forty female top-class FRs (age 34.18 \u00b1 3.50 years and 5 \u00b1 3.9 years international refereeing experience) and 52 male FRs (age 38.4 \u00b1 3.3 years and 5 \u00b1 3.5 years international refereeing experience) candidates in the preliminary open list developed by the FIFA Refereeing Department for the 2014 and 2015 World Cup Tournaments, participated in the study. The FRs were tested for aerobic fitness under laboratory conditions with a progressive speed treadmill test until exhaustion. Female FRs showed to possess, on average, lower (large effect) levels of aerobic fitness and performance compared with their male counterparts. The female FRs' V\u0307<jats:sc>o<\/jats:sc>\n                           <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>max (48.1 \u00b1 4.4 ml\u00b7kg<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>\u00b7min<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>) was 7% (large effect) lower than the male FRs (51.9 ml\u00b7kg<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>\u00b7min<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>). Peak treadmill speed was 11% lower (large effect) in female FRs (16.27 \u00b1 0.94 vs. 14.64 \u00b1 0.96 km\u00b7h<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis enabled cutoff values (47.8 ml\u00b7kg<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>\u00b7min<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup> for V\u0307<jats:sc>o<\/jats:sc>\n                           <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>max) that may be used as preliminary cues to guide physiological selection and training prescription in female FRs aiming to officiate male-soccer matches. Only 2.5% of the female FRs showed V\u0307<jats:sc>o<\/jats:sc>\n                           <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>max higher than the mean values of male FRs when using the scaled notation (0.68). Female FRs aiming to officiate male competitions should consider training intensities at anaerobic threshold speed (13 km\u00b7h<jats:sup>\u22121<\/jats:sup>, 95% heart rate max) when developing aerobic fitness. Given the very large sex differences in aerobic performance, strength\/power training should be proposed to perspective female top-class FRs.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1519\/jsc.0000000000002292","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,11,14]],"date-time":"2017-11-14T17:57:47Z","timestamp":1510682267000},"page":"3216-3221","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Sex Differences in Aerobic Fitness in Top-Class Soccer Referees"],"prefix":"10.1519","volume":"32","author":[{"given":"Carlo","family":"Castagna","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Fitness Training and Biomechanics Laboratory, Technical Department, Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Florence, Italy;"},{"name":"University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy;"}]},{"given":"Mario","family":"Bizzini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Human Performance Lab, Schulthess Clinic, Sports Medicine, Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland;"}]},{"given":"Stefano","family":"D'Ottavio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy;"},{"name":"Women's National Team, Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Rome, Italy; and"}]},{"given":"Susana C.","family":"Ara\u00fajo P\u00f3voas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University Institute of Maia (ISMAI), Maia, Portugal"}]}],"member":"276","reference":[{"key":"R1-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2020","DOI":"10.1152\/jappl.1986.60.6.2020","article-title":"A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange","volume":"60","author":"Beaver","year":"1986","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"R2-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"382","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsams.2006.08.004","article-title":"Aerobic fitness and field test performance in elite Spanish soccer referees of different ages","volume":"10","author":"Casajus","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Sci Med Sport"},{"key":"R3-20230819","first-page":"420","article-title":"Effect of maximal aerobic power on match performance in elite soccer referees","volume":"15","author":"Castagna","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Strength Cond Res"},{"key":"R4-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200737070-00006","article-title":"Physiological aspects of soccer refereeing performance and training","volume":"37","author":"Castagna","year":"2007","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"R5-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"767","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2012.668705","article-title":"Reliability, sensitivity and validity of the assistant referee intermittent endurance test (ARIET)\u2014A modified Yo-Yo IE2 test for elite soccer assistant referees","volume":"30","author":"Castagna","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"R6-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2003.010215","article-title":"Appropriate interpretation of aerobic capacity: Allometric scaling in adult and young soccer players","volume":"39","author":"Chamari","year":"2005","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"R8-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1225","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-014-0199-1","article-title":"Applied physiology of female soccer: An update","volume":"44","author":"Datson","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"R9-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0b013e31818cb278","article-title":"Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science","volume":"41","author":"Hopkins","year":"2009","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exer"},{"key":"R10-20230819"},{"key":"R11-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1242","DOI":"10.1249\/01.mss.0000170062.73981.94","article-title":"Physical demands during an elite female soccer game: Importance of training status","volume":"37","author":"Krustrup","year":"2005","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"key":"R12-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1777","DOI":"10.1097\/00005768-200010000-00018","article-title":"Heart rate and performance parameters in elite cyclists: A longitudinal study","volume":"32","author":"Luc\u00eda","year":"2000","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"key":"R13-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsams.2008.09.006","article-title":"Activity profile of top-class female soccer refereeing in relation to the position of the ball","volume":"13","author":"Mallo","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Sci Med Sport"},{"key":"R14-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1019","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200737120-00002","article-title":"Criteria for determination of maximal oxygen uptake: A brief critique and recommendations for future research","volume":"37","author":"Midgley","year":"2007","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"R15-20230819","first-page":"552","article-title":"Physical demands in high-level female soccer\u2014Application of fitness tests to evaluate match performance","volume":"22","author":"Mohr","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"R16-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1249\/00005768-198808000-00001","article-title":"Implications of exercise testing for prediction of athletic performance: A comtemporary perspective","volume":"20","author":"Noakes","year":"1988","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"key":"R17-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-006-0147-3","article-title":"Neuromuscular factors determining 5 km running performance and running economy in well-trained athletes","volume":"97","author":"Nummela","year":"2006","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"R18-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-198401020-00001","article-title":"Physiological basis of the sex difference in cardiorespiratory endurance","volume":"1","author":"Pate","year":"1984","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"R19-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1139\/h00-002","article-title":"Exercise and training in women, Part I: Influence of gender on exercise and training responses","volume":"25","author":"Shephard","year":"2000","journal-title":"Can J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"R20-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200535060-00004","article-title":"Physiology of soccer: An update","volume":"35","author":"St\u00f8len","year":"2005","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"R21-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"527","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2010.543914","article-title":"Intensities of exercise during match-play in FA Premier League referees and players","volume":"29","author":"Weston","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"R22-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1123\/ijspp.6.2.281","article-title":"Changes in a top-level soccer referee's training, match activities, and physiology over an 8-year period: A case study","volume":"6","author":"Weston","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int J Sports Physiol Perfor"},{"key":"R23-20230819","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"615","DOI":"10.2165\/11632360-000000000-00000","article-title":"Science and medicine applied to soccer refereeing: An update","volume":"42","author":"Weston","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sports Med"}],"container-title":["Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/00124278-201811000-00026","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,19]],"date-time":"2023-08-19T11:04:10Z","timestamp":1692443050000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/00124278-201811000-00026"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,11]]},"references-count":22,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1519\/jsc.0000000000002292","relation":{},"ISSN":["1064-8011"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1064-8011","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,11]]}}}