Nike-iPod Challenge

[Ref Flunkie]

I have no idea if this would work. Anyone else have the Nike-iPod transmitter for the Nano? Wouldn't it be fun to attach the chip to our ref shoes, keep the nano in our pocket, and track how much we run in one of our matches? The pouch I have to hold the transmitter is black, so it should blend into our shoes nicely. I don't know, just thought it may be fun to track how far everyone runs in their standard matches during the year....of course you would have to have an iPod nano already.

[falcon.7]

I believe this has been done on the international level. Someone please check this for me. If I remember correctly, it was something like defenders run 2 miles, midfielders 5, forwards 3, and the referee like 8 or something. Numbers are probably way off, but the point of the study was that the referee is probably the fittest person on the field.

[ctsoccer13]

They definitely did it for two US Women's matches but I don't remember the outcome.

[OhRef]

I have no idea if this would work. Anyone else have the Nike-iPod transmitter for the Nano? Wouldn't it be fun to attach the chip to our ref shoes, keep the nano in our pocket, and track how much we run in one of our matches? The pouch I have to hold the transmitter is black, so it should blend into our shoes nicely. I don't know, just thought it may be fun to track how far everyone runs in their standard matches during the year....of course you would have to have an iPod nano already.

I use a Garmin Forerunner 305. Before the match you can go around the field and enter the location of the corner flags. The after the match you can download the information and see where you got to on the field. In a typical 90 minute match I usually make about 7 miles as referee. As AR, somewhere between 2-3 miles depending on the level of match.

[macheath]

An Italian study of Serie A refs got an average of 7.1 miles per match. On speed, 17 % of the time the refs were running faster than the pace for a 5:35 mile.

[bluedevils]

An Italian study of Serie A refs got an average of 7.1 miles per match. On speed, 17 % of the time the refs were running faster than the pace for a 5:35 mile.

Got a link for that one?

[Rufusabc]

I'm already tired....

[macheath]

Got a link for that one?

You asked for it...:)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12741883&dopt=Abstract

Ain't Google wonderful? The underlying article is "Intermatch Variation of Match Activity in Elite Italian Soccer Referees."

[Ref Flunkie]

I use a Garmin Forerunner 305. Before the match you can go around the field and enter the location of the corner flags. The after the match you can download the information and see where you got to on the field. In a typical 90 minute match I usually make about 7 miles as referee. As AR, somewhere between 2-3 miles depending on the level of match.



Oooo this sounds cool, may have to check it out.


And guys, I know this has been done at the professional level, I'm just wondering what WE run. I just want to see one of my matches come up at 0.5 miles :).

[dadman]

I can point ot some recreational indoor refs who would have a hard time coming up to 0.5 miles in a three-game night. Including trips to the snack bar and restroom. :)

Top-flight soccer refs, though? They are always moving.

[Doug the Ref]

I AR'd for a ref at State Cup on a 18-19 boys game who wore a GPS tracker device. He ran between 5 and 6 miles as the referee. Later in the summer he ran 6.5 miles for a PDL middle. Kind of cool information.

Some don't need GPS for measuring. We can just use high school geometry. Let's see, what is the diameter of the center circle and how many times to we cross the center line???? :)

[Wreave]

I think a referee would have to use one of the GPS-based devices as opposed to a foot-motion device.

For running, I have long wanted a tracker of some kind. The foot-motion devices seem to be the most precise, especially since the trail where I run is often shielded by trees that make the GPS signal intermittent. Running has a very consistent stride length, and so once you have the device calibrated to you, it's very accurate.

In contrast, refereeing has a variety of stride types, lengths, and speeds. It seems like a GPS-based device that simply tracks where you are on the field would do a better job. However, since many of the movements are in such a small area, they'd be lost too.

Maybe one on each foot and average it out?