Assistant referee fitness test

The assistant referee fitness test is different than the one for (center) referees. If you want to see the physical requirements for referees, check out their Fifa fitness test for referees.

Fifa’s explanation of the test

The official fitness test for football assistant referees consists of three tests. Test 1 is the CODA test, which assesses the assistant referee’s ability to change direction. The Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) test is the second test. It measures the assistant referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 30 metres. Test 3 is the Interval Test and the test evaluates the assistant referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75 metres interspersed with 25 metres walking intervals.

The time between the end of Test 1 and the start of Test 2 should be 2 to 4 minutes maximum. The time between the end of Test 2 and the start of Test 3 should be 6 to 8 minutes maximum.
Tests must be performed on a stable surface such as an athletics track or football field. Athletic spikes may NOT be worn during the tests.

The tests

Because the page will get too long, I have published all tests on a seperate page. You can click the images below to read the procedures and requirements for those tests.

Test 1: CODA

Test 1 for assistant referees is the Change of Direction Ability (CODA) fitness test. This test is introduced in 2016 and the goal is to assess the assistant referee’s ability to change direction.

Improve your assistant referee fitness abilities and check out the CODA test.

Test 2: Repeated Sprint Ability

This test is created to measure if assistant referees are able to sprint five times within a certain time limit. Check the procedures and requirements of the Repeated Sprint Ability Test.

Repeated Sprint Ability Test for Assistant referees.

Test 3: Interval Test

  1. Assistant referees must complete 40 x 75m run / 25m walk intervals. This equates to 4,000m or 10 laps of a 400m athletics track. The pace is dictated by the audio file and reference times are set in accordance with the referee’s category. If an audio file is not available, an experienced physical instructor should use a stopwatch and whistle.
  2. Assistant referees must start from a standing position. They must not start before the whistle. To ensure that referees do not start early, assistant test leaders should be positioned at each start line to control the start.
  3. At the end of each run, each assistant referee must enter the ‘walking area’ before the whistle. The walking area is marked out with a line 1.5m before and 1.5m behind the 75m line.
  4. If an assistant referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time, they should receive a clear warning from the test leader. If an assistant referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time for a second occasion, they should be stopped by the test leader and informed that they have failed the test.

Interval fifa fitness test for referees

Reference times for men assistant referees

  • International and category 1: maximum 15 seconds per 75m run and 20 seconds per 25m walk
  • Category 2: maximum 15 seconds per 75m run and 22 seconds per 25m walk
  • Lower categories: maximum 15 seconds per 75m run and 24 seconds per 25m walk

Reference times for women assistant referees

  • International and category 1: maximum 17 seconds per 75m run and 22 seconds per 25m walk
  • Category 2: maximum 17 seconds per 75m run and 24 seconds per 25m walk
  • Lower categories: maximum 17 seconds per 75m run and 26 seconds per 25m walk

Download audio files for men assistant referees

If you want to train at home with the Fifa Interval Test, it’s much easier with audio files. You can download the specific files for men assistant referees via the buttons below and play them on your phone or music device. Good luck with the tests. 

The beeps will also notify you when you have 10 or 5 seconds left before your sprint must be finished or before the next sprint will start.

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Download audio files for women assistant referees

If you want to train at home with the Fifa Interval Test, it’s much easier with audio files. You can download the specific files for women assistant referees via the buttons below and play them on your phone or music device. Good luck with the tests. 

The beeps will also notify you when you have 10 or 5 seconds left before your sprint must be finished or before the next sprint will start.

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