Enhancing the health of football referees and engaging older football participants

Research scientists in sport and health sciences and social sciences at the University of Iceland have joined forces with the Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ) and the football club Þróttur in a project aimed at supporting the physical fitness of football referees, both in the top leagues and at the grassroots level. At the same time, they will study the psychological, social, and physical effects on older players participating in the social activities of sports clubs, with members of Þróttur's Old Boys team playing a key role. The participants in the project recently attended measurements at Laugardalshöll.

The collaboration began last year and originated from a conversation between Guðberg K. Jónsson, director of the Social Science Research Institute and the Human Behaviour Laboratory at the University of Iceland and Gunnar Jarl Jónsson, an experienced football referee and member of the KSÍ referee committee. The discussion focused on strengthening the refereeing profession and improving top referees' physical condition while engaging older players in refereeing roles for younger age groups. Guðberg, who also leads the Old Boys activities of Þróttur in Laugardalur, had also been interested in researching the impact of football participation on his peers' mental and physical health.

As a result, Guðberg and Gunnar approached Milos Petrovic for collaboration. Milos is assistant professor and head of the Research Centre for Sports and Health Sciences at the University of Iceland's School of Education. The centre is equipped with some of the best sports measurement equipment in the world. Additionally, Valgeir Einarsson Mäntyla, a physiotherapist and chiropractor at Kjarni Rehabilitation, KSÍ, and Þróttur, is involved in the project.

Both Guðberg and Milos have extensive experience in working with athletes and have worked for some of the best football teams in the world. Guðberg has worked on projects for Liverpool and Barcelona, and Milos for Manchester City.

Referees not much studied in sports sciences

It is just as important for referees as it is for players to be in good shape on the field, as they run back and forth across the field from the first whistle to the last. Refereeing also requires constant concentration throughout the game, and most of us know how increased fatigue affects our focus. “Referees have been little studied, and thus many questions about their work and physical fitness remain unanswered,” Milos points out on the importance of this project for science.

As previously mentioned, both referees from the top football league and grassroots referees are participating in the project. A total of 40 referees have already come for measurements and consultations at the UI sports centre in Laugardalshöll. 

We assess the referees’ physical condition by measuring strength, power, sprint performance, and how well they change direction while running,” says Milos about the measurements, adding that this gives the referees good insight into their strengths and where they need to improve. “This holistic approach ensures that we gain a good understanding of the group's physical fitness and helps us recommend exercises to strengthen the referees in specific areas.” 

Studying the impact of sports participation on the mental health of older athletes

Alongside enhancing skills and improving the physical condition of referees, Guðberg, Milos, and their colleagues are working on collecting data on the health and well-being of older football players. Guðberg points out that organised participation in sports not only improves physical health, but research shows it also enhances mental health and can reduce the risk of various diseases.

“There has been considerable discussion on loneliness from various perspectives, including its impact on people's physical health. Research has also shown that interactions with friends and family can contribute to better health, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the likelihood of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes," says Guðberg.

He adds that it was relatively easy to start measuring the Old Boys players' psychological, social, and physical aspects in Laugardalur. "We expect to gather a large group of participants and members from the club's “walking football.” We also aim to include the Women's Fitness Group and the Fitness in Þróttur for those over 60, along with organised activities in Mosfellsbær and Akureyri.  It is important to demonstrate the public health significance of supporting the development of good and organized services for older athletes."

Excellent collaboration 

This collaborative project between university research scientists, the Football Association of Iceland (KSÍ), the referees' committee, the Sport Club Þróttur, and other athletes is a good example of how the university's expertise is used for the benefit of the entire community, as outlined in the university's strategy. Guðberg and Milos say the collaboration has been excellent so far, noting that the project has received funding from the Rannís Sports Fund and the Public Health Fund. 

The first results of this collaborative project will be published in the journal Frontiers in Science:  Advances in Sports Science: Latest Findings and New Scientific Proposals this February. Milos and Guðberg will also edit a special research issue, “Women in Sports”, for Frontiers this spring.

Guðberg points out that if the project proves successful, it can be used to increase the participation of older athletes in sports clubs across the country. This would benefit both the participants and the clubs, gaining strong volunteers. Gunnar Jarl is also considering international collaboration in this field in the future. 

When asked, Milos says that although this collaborative project focuses on football and football referees, the Research Centre for Sports and Health Sciences at the University of Iceland welcomes referees from other disciplines to collaborate. “Advanced equipment, expertise, and a strong team enable us to adapt our methods to various fields that can benefit referees in different sports," concludes Milos.