Physiological Stress Responses in Soccer Referees During Actual Soccer Game

Background: In professional soccer a wrong judgment of referee may have profound implications on the outcome of the game. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological stress parameters of soccer referees during actual soccer game. Methods: Fourteen healthy males (age: 28.7 ± 4.8 years, height: 179.6 ± 7.4 cm, weight: 75.0 ± 9.9kg, Body mass index: 23.2 ± 1.9 kg.m-2) were selected to participate in this study from the national male referees in Asian football championship who had 8 to 10 years national refereeing background. Two venous blood samples were collected between 15:30 and 18:30 from each participant 2 hours before and immediately after competition. The levels of fibrinogen, cortisol, testosterone, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes were measured by ELISA method. Results: Data showed a significant increase in blood fibrinogen (P=0.004), cortisol (P=0.008), and lymphocytes (P=0.04) levels between before and after competition. However, there were no significant differences in testosterone (P=0.54), testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C) (P=0.1), leukocytes (P=0.37), neutrophils (P=0.17), and monocytes (P=0.08) levels between before and after competition. Conclusions: According to this study, there is a close relationship between job, physical and mental stressful factors as well as some physiological factors. Therefore, recognizing of stressful and effective factors on psychological, mental, and physiological changes of referees, finding some mediating strategies as well as control of these changes are very important.