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Fitness, next to ability, is the most important attribute for a
successful referee. Whether you are just starting out, thinking about
promotion, or just want to improve your health, training to get fit is
better than refereeing to keep or get fit. Fitness is not like an exam,
it can not be crammed in all at the end.
Depending on the level of fitness you want or are required to be at for
your level of football, it is best to find out what level of fitness you
are at right now. If you are just starting out, you can do this by
either following the tests in the Guide to Fitness or by attending a
fitness session or local gym.
The FA Guide to Fitness was given to all referees on a Basic Course as
part of their 'Welcome to Refereeing' Packs. Alternatively, it can be
downloaded via the link in 'Related Documents'. In this section there is
also a guide to a 13-week pre-season training plan and a nutrition
guide. As you will see, the first part of the fitness schedule is two
weeks of rest. The training sessions are based on reaching a specific
heart rate range, therefore they can be applied to any level of fitness
as long as the heart rate percentages and rest periods are adhered to.
The Documents:
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