@Article{Moreno-Perez2021,
journal="Biology of Sport",
issn="0860-021X",
volume="38",
number="4",
year="2021",
title="Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on match-activity and physical performance in professional football referees",
abstract="To investigate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on match-play metrics in professional football referees during official matches of the Spanish professional leagues. Forty-two professional football referees from the First (n = 20) and Second Division (n = 22) were monitored during 564 official games using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Data of matches before lockdown were compared to matches after resumption of the competition. Compared to pre-lockdown, in the referees of the First Division there was a decrease in the total running distance and the distance covered at all speed thresholds > 6 km ·h-1 after lockdown (P < .05). In the Second Division referees, the post-lockdown measurement only showed a decrease in the running distance at 21–24 km·h-1 (P < .05), with no changes in the other speed thresholds. The postlockdown measurement showed an increased distance covered at < 6 km·h-1 and the number of accelerations for both First and Second Division referees (P < .05). Referees’ match activity was reduced due to the COVID-19 lockdown, while the effect on running parameters was more pronounced in First Division referees.",
author="Moreno-Perez, Victor
and Martín-Sánchez, María Luisa
and Coso, Juan
and Luis Felipe, Jose
and Courel-Ibañez, Javier
and Sánchez-Sánchez, Javier",
pages="761--765",
doi="10.5114/biolsport.2021.109451",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2021.109451"
}