Analysis of sprinting in professional soccer assistant referees with and without flag, to the right and left, with and without visual stimulus

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15359/mhs.22-2.21504

Keywords:

soccer, referee, speed, visual

Abstract

Introduction: Sprinting is a crucial motor skill in soccer. Assistant referees also use this technique, holding a flag in their hand and with high demands on the visual system during risky offensive plays. Objective: Analyze sprint performance with and without the use of the flag, with the use of the flag and visual stimulus, with running to the right and left. Methods: A quantitative, explanatory, correlational, cross-sectional design was applied to 43 professional soccer assistant referees (6 women: 30,67 ± 5,7 years, 1,6 ± 0,01 m, 58,1 ± 2,11 kg – 37

men: 35,29 ± 4,6 years, 1,72 ± 0,49 m, 71,65 ± 6,17 kg). A total of 12 sprints were requested, recording the execution time with Microgate Witty-Gate photocells. Results: For the assistant referees group, it was established that sprints to the right and left, in general, did not show significant differences, with an average speed close to 21 km/h, when comparing performances with and without a flag, with a flag and visual stimulus, nor by division (first, ascent, second, and projection), showing homogeneity in the results. Conclusions: The homogeneity of the results under different conditions in professional soccer assistant referees would be mainly based on the same training system during the season. This merits future evaluations in other assistant referees and a longitudinal intervention of the subjects studied.

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Published

2026-06-02

How to Cite

Díaz-Escobar, C., Araya-Astudillo, J. P., Cabezas-Caballero, F., & Díaz-Narváez, V. (2026). Analysis of sprinting in professional soccer assistant referees with and without flag, to the right and left, with and without visual stimulus. MHSalud: Revista En Ciencias Del Movimiento Humano Y Salud, 23(1), e21504. https://doi.org/10.15359/mhs.22-2.21504