Adaptation to physical loads in football: analysis of muscle strength and endurance

Aim. This study presents a comparative analysis of muscle imbalance and physical endu­rance between referees and assistant referees in football, with the objective of delineating role-specific physical conditioning requirements. Materials and methods. The study involved 51 football referees aged 18–28 years. The assessment protocol included anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, isometric strength evaluation of the hip adductor and abductor muscle groups, and a functional assessment of physical endurance via running tests. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent samples t-test. Results. The analysis revealed no statistically significant intergroup differences in muscle imbalance and agility. However, referees demonstrated superior endurance performance, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) observed in the running test. These findings confirm the existence of role-specific physical conditioning requirements among referees. Conclusion. The difference in endurance performance is likely attributable to the roles of referees and assistant referees during match play. These findings underscore the necessity for further research and the optimization of role-specific training regimens for football referees and their assistants.