Physical Fitness and Body Composition of Youth Referees in Invasion Games
Élvio Rúbio Gouveia,
Helder Lopes,
Marcelo de Maio Nascimento,
Filipe Manuel Clemente,
Hugo Sarmento,
Andreas Ihle,
Gerson Ferrari,
Pedro Luz,
Henrique Caldeira,
Adilson Marques
Affiliations
Élvio Rúbio Gouveia
Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (LARSYS), Interactive Technologies Institute (ITI), 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Helder Lopes
Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Marcelo de Maio Nascimento
Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
Filipe Manuel Clemente
Escola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Hugo Sarmento
University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Andreas Ihle
Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Gerson Ferrari
Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170022, Chile
Pedro Luz
Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Henrique Caldeira
Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
Adilson Marques
Interdisciplinary Centre for the study of human Performance (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1495-751 Lisbon, Portugal
Background: Referees’ activity can be an instrument for training students with an impact on health-related physical fitness (PF). This study aimed to investigate the differences in PF and body composition between students without sports practice (G1), students with regular sports practice (G2), and student referees in team invasion games (G3). Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional design. The sample comprised 45 male students between 14 and 20 years old (16.40 ± 1.85). Three groups (G1, G2, and G3) of 15 participants each were selected. PF was assessed by a 20 m shuttle run, change-of-direction test, and standing long jump. Body composition was determined by body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and the percentage of body fat (%BF) predicted by skinfold. Results: After controlling for age as a covariate, the block of variables used to characterize PF was statistically different between sports practice groups favoring student referees (p p p = 0.007; r = 0.21). Student referees had statistically significantly lower values than the remaining groups. Conclusion: Refereeing activity benefits PF related to health and performance, including body composition. This study confirms the benefits related to health in children and adolescents who are involved in refereeing activity.
