A comparative analysis of distance covered and running speed among football referees across different levels of officiating: A performance based assessment

This study aimed to compare the physical performance of football referees at national and university levels by examining distance covered and running speed using GPS-based tracking technology. A total of 20 male referees (10 national-level and 10 university-level) were observed during official matches. Data were collected using Garmin GPS wristwatches, and the variables of interest were analyzed using independent samples t-tests. Results showed that while national referees covered more distance on average (7.06 km vs. 2.56 km), the difference was not statistically significant. However, national referees exhibited significantly higher running speeds (3.42 km/h vs. 2.76 km/h, p