Fitness Test
To upgrade and recertify every year as a Regional Referee, you must pass the FIFA fitness test. The official fitness test for football referees consists of two tests. Test 1, Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA), measures the referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 40m. Test 2, Interval Test, evaluates the referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walking intervals
Test 1: Repeated Sprint Ability
Electronic timing gates (photocells) should be used to time the sprints. Timing gates should be positioned no higher than 100 cm from the ground.
The ‘start’ gate should be placed at 0m and the ‘finish’ gate at 40m. The ‘start line’ should be marked out 1.5m before the ‘start’ gate.
Referees should line up at the start with their front foot touching the ‘start line’. Once the test leader signals that the electronic timing gates are set, the referee is free to start.
Referees should receive a maximum of 60 seconds recovery between each of the 6 X 40m sprints. During their recovery, referees must walk back to the start.
If a referee falls or trips, they should be given an additional trial (one trial = 1 x 40 m).
If a referee fails one trial out of the six, they should be given a seventh trial immediately after the sixth trial. If they fail two trials out of seven, the match official has failed the test.
Time
6.40 seconds per trial
Test 2: Interval Test
Referee must complete 40 × 75 m run (1) / 25 m walk (2) intervals. The pace is dictated by the audio file and reference times are set in accordance with the referee’s category.
Referees must start from a standing position. At the end of each run, each referee must enter the “walking area” before the whistle. The walking area is marked out with a line 1.5 m before and 1.5 m behind the 75 m line.
If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time, they should receive a clear warning from the test leader.
If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time for a second occasion, they should be stopped by the test leader and informed that they have failed the test.
Time
- BLUE LINE: 17 seconds per 75m run
- YELLOW LINE: 20 seconds per 25m walk.
Resource File
Download the official US Soccer fitness test requirement as a PDF format below.
Practice with the audio file
You can download the audio file below, put it on and try running the test for yourself as practice. You can use a soccer field instead since generally high school tracks may not be as accessible.
Because you want to be able to run faster than the required test, you might want to practice faster than your normal reference times. A lot of referees practice endurance running or doing a 15 second run and 17 second walk instead of the usual 17/20. That way, when test time comes, you will be flying through with no issues.
2025 Dates
Here are the dates for the fitness test around the state.
- Huntsville, August 16, 7:00 AM
