The evaluation of balance, proprioception and physical performance parameters of soccer referees from different divisions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between proprioception, balance and athletic performance parameters of the soccer referees. Sixty male soccer referees from Turkish Football Federation voluntarily participated to the study. The referees were divided into three groups classifying referees n=20, province referee n=20, candidate referee n=20. Antropometry, shoulder proprioception, balance, flexibility, jumping and agility were tested.Tests were analyzed statistically with One Way Anova test and Post hoc Tukey test. Classifying referees analyzed statistically with Mann Whitney U test. In flexibility test, there was significantly differences between groups classifying referees 27.43±10.95, province referees 28.40±7.64 and candidate referees 34.85±6.05) (p=0.015*). In agility test, there was significantly differences between groups (classifying referees 2.44±0.10, province referees 2.58±0.13 and candidate referees 2.51±0.14) (p=0.004*). There was significantly positive relationships between height-age (r=0.343**, p=0.007), body weight-height (r=0.581**, p=0.000), body weight-body mass index (r=0.839**, p=0.000), body weight-body fat percent (r=0.714**, p=0.000), body weight-training age (r=0.264*, p=0.042), body weight-age (r=0.394**, p=0.002), body mass index-body fat percent (r=0.811**, p=0.000), training age-kinestetic balance (r=0.286* p=0.027), training age-age (r=0.702**, p=0.000) test results. There was significantly negative relationships between body weight-flexibility (r=-0.292*, p=0.024), body fat percent-flexibility (r=-0.278*, p=0.032), age- flexibility (r=-0.409**, p=0.000) test results. In conclusion, classifying referees have better agility test results. Proprioception test is an effective method to avoid injuries and area control awareness for soccer referees. Key words: Soccer refereeing, proprioception, kinestetic balance, agility.