Last year, FIFA removed the age limits for international referees, so 2016 allowed again match officials over 45 to be nominated and accepted on the FIFA List. In exchange for that concession, FIFA decided to make the fitness tests more demanding. The format is similar, but the reference times have changed. The rest time between each set of 40 metres sprints was reduced from 90 to 60 seconds and the intervals were reduced in half: the running distance (from 150 to 75 meters), the running time (from 30 to 15 seconds), the rest distance (from 50 to 25 meters) and the rest time (from 30 to 15 seconds). The minimum number of laps remains unchanged: 10.
For speed, there is no doubt: the new 60-second recovery time between the sprints make the test more difficult. Just enough time to walk from the finish line back to the start. It affects the “explosive” referees more and those who are "diesel" less, as they are able to do many sets at the same rate. There is more debate with respect to the interval test. The first argument is that it should be easier, as runners are always faster over four sets of 500 m with a minute rest than two sets of 1000 m with two or even three minutes of rest. However, this clashes with the reality of the new testing sessions. Why is it a little harder? First of all, because the number of intervals has doubled. This involves another handicap: although 150 m appears the same as two 75 m intervals, it is actually not, as the 150 m interval includes one start, while two intervals of 75 m include two starts. Then there is the issue of "safety margin". Nobody likes to risk a "caution" and the referees always try to arrive in the “finish area” one second before the whistle. That means the referees used to run in 29 seconds, while the new test forces them to do it at 14 s, but 14 plus 14 is 28, which means a higher rate. Psychologically, it also becomes harder, but this is only for weak minds. Although it remains 10 laps, now there are 40 starts, 40 beeps and 40 "finishes". There is not enough time even to tell a joke during the rest time. Simply, it is a bit more demanding. Therefore, referees have to train a little more.
According to the 2010 FIFA Regulations on the Organisation of Refereeing, the number of Referee categories shall correspond to the number of football levels the Member Association has. The top four categories should be composed as follows:
a) Category 1: Referees who officiate in the professional competitions organised by the Member Association (or whose organisation is delegated to a professional league).
b) Category 2: Referees who officiate in the semi-professional and amateur competitions organised at national level.
c) Category 3: Referees who officiate in the competitions organised at regional or provincial level.
d) Category 4: Referees who officiate in grassroots and youth competitions.
In the 2016 FIFA Fitness Tests document, the referees are split into new categories:
a) International: FIFA referees and assistant referees.
b) Category 1: Referees who officiate in the professional competitions organised by the Member Association (or whose organisation is delegated to a professional league).
c) Category 2: Referees who officiate in the semi-professional and amateur competitions organised at national level.
d) Lower categories: Referees who officiate in the competitions organised at regional or provincial level, grassroots and youth competitions.
Referees (men and women)
From 2010 to 2015, the official fitness test for football referees consisted of two tests. Test 1, Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), measures the referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 40 m. Test 2, Interval Test, evaluates the referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 150 m interspersed with 50 m walking intervals.
In 2016, Test 1, Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), has been kept, but with more demanding reference times. Test 2, Interval Test, was changed to a series of high-speed runs over 75 m interspersed with 25 m walking intervals. The time between the end of Test 1 and the start of Test 2 should be 6 to 8 minutes maximum.
Test 1 (RSA, 40 m)
2015 Reference times for men referees
1. Category 1: 6.20 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 6.40 seconds per trial
3. Category 3 and 4: 6.60 seconds per trial
2016 Reference times for men referees
1. International and category 1: 6.00 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 6.10 seconds per trial
3. Lower categories: 6.20 seconds per trial
2015 Reference times for women referees
1. Category 1: 6.60 seconds per trial
2. Category 2, 3 and 4: 6.80 seconds per trial
2016 Reference times for women referees
1. International and category 1: 6.40 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 6.50 seconds per trial
3. Lower categories: 6.60 seconds per trial
Test 2 (Intervals, 150 m/50 m)
2015 Reference times for men referees
1. Category 1: 30 seconds per 150 m run and 35 seconds per 50 m walk
2. Category 2: 30 seconds per 150 m run and 40 seconds per 50 m walk
3. Category 3 and 4: 35 seconds per 150 m run and 40 seconds per 50 m walk
Test 2 (Intervals 75 m/25 m)
2016 Reference times for men referees
1. International and category 1: 15 seconds per 75 m run and 18 seconds per 25 m walk
2. Category 2: 15 seconds per 75 m run 20 seconds per 25 m walk
3. Lower categories: 15 seconds per 75 m run and 22 seconds per 25 m walk
2015 Reference times for women referees
1. Category 1: 35 seconds per 150 m run and 40 seconds per 50 m walk
2. Category 2, 3 and 4: 35 seconds per 150 m run and 45 seconds per 50 m walk
2016 Reference times for women referees
1. International and category 1: 17 seconds per 75 m run and 20 seconds per 25 m walk
2. Category 2: 17 seconds per 75 m run and 22 seconds per 25 m walk
3. Lower categories: 17 seconds per 75 m run and 24 seconds per 25 m walk
Assistant Referees (men and women)
From 2010 to 2015, the official fitness test for assistant referees consisted of two tests. Test 1, Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), measures the referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 40 m. Test 2, Interval Test, evaluates the referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 150 m interspersed with 50 m walking intervals.
In 2016, the Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), became Test 2 and was changed to repeated sprints over 30 m. The Interval Test became Test 3 and was changed to a series of high-speed runs over 75 m interspersed with 25 m walking intervals. In addition, a new test (Test 1) has been introduced, Change of Direction Ability (CODA), to assesses the assistant referee’s ability to change direction. 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.
In 2016, the Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), became Test 2 and was changed to repeated sprints over 30 m. The Interval Test became Test 3 and was changed to a series of high-speed runs over 75 m interspersed with 25 m walking intervals. In addition, a new test (Test 1) has been introduced, Change of Direction Ability (CODA), to assesses the assistant referee’s ability to change direction. 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.
Test 1
2016 Reference times for men assistant referees (CODA)
1. International and category 1: 10.00 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 10.10 seconds per trial
3. Lower categories: 10.20 seconds per trial
Test 2
2015 Reference times for men assistant referees (RSA, 40 m)
1. Category 1: 6.00 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 6.20 seconds per trial
3. Category 3 and 4: 6.40 seconds per trial
2016 Reference times for men assistant referees (RSA, 30 m)
1. International and category 1: 4.70 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 4.80 seconds per trial
3. Lower categories: 4.90 seconds per trial
Test 3 (Intervals, 150 m/50 m)
2015 Reference times for men assistant referees
1. Category 1: 30 seconds per 150 m run and 40 seconds per 50 m walk
2. Category 2: 30 seconds per 150 m and 50 seconds per 50 m walk
3. Category 3 and 4: 35 seconds per 150 m run and 50 seconds per 50 m walk
Test 3 (Intervals, 75 m/25 m)
2016 Reference times for men assistant referees
1. International and category 1: 15 seconds per 75 m run and 20 seconds per 25 m walk
2. Category 2: 15 seconds per 75 m run and 22 seconds per 25 m walk
3. Lower categories: 15 seconds per 75 m run and 24 seconds per 25 m walk
Test 1
2016 Reference times for women assistant referees (CODA)
1. International and category 1: 11.00 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 11.10 seconds per trial
3. Lower categories: 11.20 seconds per trial
Test 2
2015 Reference times for women assistant referees (RSA, 40 m)
1. Category 1: 6.40 seconds per trial
2. Category 2, 3 and 4: 6.60 seconds per trial
2016 Reference times for women assistant referees (RSA, 30 m)
1. International and category 1: 5.10 seconds per trial
2. Category 2: 5.20 seconds per trial
3. Lower categories: 5.30 seconds per trial
Test 3 (Intervals, 150 m/50 m)
2015 Reference times for women assistant referees
1. Category 1: 35 seconds per 150 m run and 45 seconds per 50 m walk
2. Category 2, 3 and 4: 35 seconds per 150 m run and 50 seconds per 50 m walk
Test 3 (Intervals, 75 m/25 m)
2016 Reference times for women assistant referees
1. International and category 1: 17 seconds per 75 m run and 22 seconds per 25 m walk
2. Category 2: 17 seconds per 75 m run and 24 seconds per 25 m walk
3. Lower categories: 17 seconds per 75 m run and 26 seconds per 25 m walk
Futsal referees and Beach soccer referees
The FIFA fitness test for futsal referees and beach soccer referees consists of three tests, but the types of runs have changed significantly. From 2010 until 2015, Test 1 measured the endurance for an extended match of two 20-minute halves, Test 2 measured speed and ability to accelerate and decelerate over short distances, Test 3 measured the ability to change direction quickly and use different and match-specific types of runs.
Test 1 (1,000 m)
2015 Reference times for men referees:
a) International: 1,000 m in 4 minutes
b) Other categories: 1,000 m in 4 minutes and 10 seconds
2015 Reference times for women referees:
a) International: 1,000 m in 4 minutes and 10 seconds
b) Other categories: 1,000 m in 4 minutes and 20 seconds
Test 2 (4 x 10 m)
2015 Reference times for men referees:
a) International: 4 x 10 m (40 m) in 10 seconds
b) Other categories: 4 x 10 m (40 m) in 11 seconds
2015 Reference times for women referees:
a) International: 4 x 10 m (40 m) in 11 seconds
b) Other categories: 4 x 10 m (40 m) in 12 seconds
Test 3: (Agility)
2015 Reference times for men referees:
a) International: 30 m/10 m/10 m/10 m/20 m in 20.5 seconds
b) Other categories: 30 m/10 m/10 m/10 m/20 m in 21.5 seconds
2015 Reference times for women referees:
a) International: 30 m/10 m/10 m/10 m/20 m in 21.5 seconds
b) Other categories: 30 m/10 m/10 m/10 m/20 m in 22.5 seconds
The 2016 fitness test for futsal referees and beach soccer referees consists of three tests. Test 1, Speed, measures the referee’s maximum speed over 20 metres. Test 2, CODA, assesses the referee’s ability to change direction. Test 3, ARIET, measures the referee’s capacity to perform repeated forwards and sideways running bouts over a prolonged period. The time between the end of Test 1 and the start of Test 2 should be 2 to 4 minutes. The time between the end of Test 2 and the start of Test 3 should be 6 to 8 minutes.
Test 1 (Speed, 20 m)
2016 Reference times for men futsal and beach soccer referees
1. International and category 1: 3.30 seconds per trial
2. Lower categories: 3.40 seconds per trial
2016 Reference times for women futsal and beach soccer referees
1. International and category 1: 3.60 seconds per trial
2. Lower categories: 3.70 seconds per trial
Test 2 (CODA)
2016 Reference times for men futsal and beach soccer referees
1. International and category 1: 10.00 seconds per trial
2. Lower categories: 10.10 seconds per trial
2016 Reference times for women futsal and beach soccer referees
1. International and category 1: 11.00 seconds per trial
2. Lower categories: 11.10 seconds per trial
Test 3 (ARIET)
2016 Reference times for men futsal and beach soccer referees
1. International and category 1: level 15.5-3 / 1,275 metres
2. Lower categories: level 15-3 / 1,170 metres
2016 Reference times for women futsal and beach soccer referees
1. International and category 1: level 14-8 / 975 metres
2. Lower categories: level 14-3 / 820 metres
