Cardiovascular Conditioning for Rugby League Match Officials

Before devising a training program for any athlete you must acquire knowledge about the physical demands of their event or sport. This summation is no different when developing a program for match officials within Rugby League. Over the last three years Klinton Hoare, Athlete Performance Coordinator with the NRL, has been able to examine the physiological demands of NRL 1st Grade Middle Men and Sideline Officials. In conclusion to the independent examination it is evident the game of Rugby League is increasing in both speed and intensity and as such, the demands and expectations on match officials across all levels of the game are also increasing.

Today the modern game calls for match officials to be athletic and maintain throughout the season, high levels of physical fitness far superior to the match official of yesteryear.

The 'name of the game' is specificity.

Once a cardiovascular base has been established the need for a transition to specificity is paramount.

Specificity within a match officials training, incorporates but is not limited to drills and programs that address movement patterns, agility (foot speed), match threshold heart rate (MTHR), decision making processes under fatigue, anaerobic sustainability and speed (Urgency).

The following eight week program outline is just that; a generic program outline incorporating drills that have been specifically designed to improve the physiological capacity of a Rugby League match official.

The programs can be incorporated into any part of the annual program and used to compliment the program that you may already be following. Note that all the attached drills are designed around helping individuals cope with the demands of officiating and address the training of the specific energy systems and movement patterns of a match official used throughout the modern game.

In accordance to the participants fitness level, the heart rates can be varied with the floor (lowest rate) recommended no lower than 60% of maximum heart rate and the ceiling (highest rate) approximately 95% of maximum heart rate. Be sure to stay well within your limits and remember as per the strength program, safety is the first principle to follow when taking part in any strenuous training program.

Downloadable Files:

• 8 week Match Official Strength Program
• 8 week Match Official Cardiovascular Program
• NRL Match Officials Performance Parameters & Expectations
• Agility Run #1
• Agility Run #2
• Anaerobic Run #1
• Anaerobic Run #2
• Speed Endurance Drill
• Referee's Speed Specific Drill #1 (Part 1)
• Referee's Speed Specific Drill #1 (Part 2)
• Referee's Speed Specific Drill #2
• Sideline Official's Speed Specific Drill