Variability in the Load of Professional Basketball Referees during Competition

Abstract

Featured Application: The results obtained in this research are highly novel, as no previous studies have analyzed the external and internal loads of basketball referees based on the game or game quarter during elite games, such as those played in the analyzed tournament. However, this study has limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. Firstly, although the entire sample of the preparatory tournament was recorded, the number of participants is small. Secondly, the equipment used (anatomical harness, WIMUPRO inertial devices, eight-antenna radiofrequency system, heart-rate monitor…) is costly, which limits the availability of previous studies for data comparison. Monitoring the demands on basketball referees is essential for optimizing their performance and reducing the risk of injuries. This study aimed to analyze the workload experienced by elite basketball referees during official games. Using a quasi-experimental empirical methodology, inertial devices (WIMUPRO) were used for four referees participating in the official tournament of the Spanish first-division basketball league. All the matches in the tournament were analyzed. Descriptive analysis and ANOVA were used to understand the referees’ demands. Moreover, a Mixed Linear Model was used to take into account the individuality of each referee in the analysis of the variables. The results indicate that the analyzed external and internal load variables are specific to each basketball referee. The variability in referees’ external and internal load demands was identified as low to moderate within performances, between matches, and between quarters. The external and internal load variables did not vary among the three analyzed games. The distance covered during the first quarter of the games was less than in the rest of the quarters, but it was performed at a higher intensity. Neuromuscular load (analyzed as Impacts, Player Load, and Power Metabolic) showed higher values in the first quarter of the games than in the rest. The referees’ response to competition is individual and can be influenced by situational variables such as the moment or type of game.