World Cup soccer referees job’s are more physicially demanding than the actual athletes. They run an average of 12 miles per game, 5 more than the players, according to data from the U.S. Soccer Federation. The World Cup is every four years. 32 countries compete for a month to be named the best soccer team in the world. Becoming a referee is physically demanding. The referees have rigourous fitness requirements that have been set by FIFA, the governing body that oversees the tournament. Since most World Cup referees hold a day job, they have to find their own time to train. The first test is speed. Each referee runs 40 meters six times and each of the six sprints must be completed in 6.2 seconds. They are allowed 1 minute and 30 seconds between each sprint. The second test is stamina. The referees must run 150 meters in 30 seconds, then walk 50 meters in 35 seconds. They do this 20 times which is equal to 10 laps around a track field. Referees also meet with sports psychologists to help them cope with the pressures of training and refereeing.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/04/world.cup.referees.fitness/index.html
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