Constructing Norms of Some Anthropometric Measures and Physical Fitness among Soccer Referees in Palestine

This study aims to identify the level of the selected anthropometric measures and fitness, and the relationship between the selected anthropometric measures and fitness, and the impact of experience, the degree of refereeing and the number of matches on the selected anthropometric measures and fitness. In addition to, constructing norms of anthropometric measures and physical fitness among the referees of soccer in Palestine .To achieve this, the study was conducted on a sample of (46) soccer referees who are active in the Palestinian soccer league in various degrees in the end of the sports season (2010-2011) were selected in a comprehensive survey. The selected anthropometric measurements which were taken: age, body height, body mass and the circumeference of the neck, the waist, the hips, the thigh and the celf in addition to the percent of fat, the vital capacity, the University of California test to measure the maximum oxygen consumption and testing the sprint for (30) m, to measure the transitional speed , the test of the running zig-zag in a rectangular (3X 5) m to measure the agility, the test of the long jump from stability to measure the muscle power for both legs, and the test of the trunk bending forward and down from the long sit to measure the flexibility. The results showed that the level of the selected antropometric measures among the soccer referees in Palestine was good, it showed that the level of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) of soccer referees in Palestine was good (55.18) ml / kg / min, and the level of 30-m sprint test was good (3.91) sec. While the study showed a decrease in each of: the agility, legs power and the flexibility of soccer referees in Palestine, which were respectively : 12.93 seconds, 2.07 m,and 8.09 cm . The results of the study showed many correlations at the level of significance (α = 0.05) and significance level (α = 0.01), it was the best correlations as follows: among maximum oxygen consumption and the percentage of fat in terms of (-0.48) , among the transitional speed and the chest fat in terms of (0.58), among the agility and the hips circumeference which reached (0.40), among the ability of the muscle legs and the proportion of fat in terms of (-0.55), and among the flexibility and thigh fat was (-0.54). Also, the study indicated a significant differences at (α = 0.05) in circumeferences of the neck, the waist, the percent of fat due to referee experience .Also, the results indicated a significant differences at (α = 0.05) in the circumefernces of the neck, the waist, the hips, the thigh, the celf and the percent of fat according to the degree of refereeing .While the differences were not significant in selected anthropometric measures ccording to the number of matches among the soccer referees in Palestine . The study showed a significant differences at (α = 0.05)in transitional speed according to the degree of refereeing .Furthermore, the results revealed that there were not significant differences in the other physical fitness elements according to experience and the number of matches among soccer referees in Palestine. The study constructed norms of anthropometric measures and physical fitness of soccer referees in Palestine by the researcher. Based on the results of the study the researcher recommended a number of recommendations including: the benefit from the results of this study in selecting and rehabilitation and the follow-up of the refrees, hiring fitness spsecialists for training referees collectively or in groups, focusing on all factors of fitness, without exceptions, to rely on the physical aspects level when we hire a referee to manage the matches, distributing and training the refrees institutionally. Finally,conducting studies on other aspects of soccer referees in Palestine and similar studies of the referees of other games. Keywords: Anthropometric measurements, Fitness, Norms, Soccer referees.