Time-motion analysis and heart rate recordings of South African rugby union referees

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the movement patterns, heart rates and work-to-rest ratios of South African Rugby Union referees during the two halves of match-refereeing. The referees were monitored by means of a video camera in 16 matches during a tournament. The frequency and duration of the different movement patterns (standing still, walking, jogging, lateral movements and sprinting) during each half of the matches were analysed using the Dartfish TeamPro software package. Heart rate (HR) was recorded to determine the intensity of the movement patterns by a Suunto Team pack monitor system. A large practical significance difference was found between the mean frequency for standing still (d=2.53), walking (d=2.50), jogging (d=2.42), lateral movements (d=2.86) and sprinting (d=1.31), as well as for the mean duration for standing still (d=2.05), lateral movements (d=0.76) and sprinting (d=0.77) between the two halves of match refereeing.The intensity displayed a large practical significant difference between the time spent in the maximal (d=2.07), anaerobic threshold (d=0.92) and sub-threshold (d=7.90) heart rate zones between the two halves.The first and second halves had a work-to-rest ratio of 1:3.5 and 1:5 respectively. The study revealed that several of the measures for movement patterns increased significantly during the second half.

Keywords: Time-motion analysis; heart rate recordings; Rugby Union.