FIFA referees Claus and Abatti failed CONMEBOL fitness test

[es1]

Could be recency bias but I’ve done a 2850 Cooper (twice) and a 17-22s FIFA 4k (also twice) both not that long ago and I found the FIFA much harder (and I’m presuming the 15s version would just that bit harder).

But fair enough on the sprints. But then I am built for speed not for comfort as they say

i reckon if you gave me 2 weeks notice to run 17/22 4k, i'd cruise it.

if you gave me 2 weeks notice to run 2600m in 12 mins i'd get nowhere near.

i'd fail the sprints for both though!

 

[JamesL]

Could be recency bias but I’ve done a 2850 Cooper (twice) and a 17-22s FIFA 4k (also twice) both not that long ago and I found the FIFA much harder (and I’m presuming the 15s version would just that bit harder).

But fair enough on the sprints. But then I am built for speed not for comfort as they say

I find the FIFA one so much easier.

Although, that said, whilst we're showing off, I recently ran 13k in 58 minutes which I worked out to be 5 level 4 cooper tests on the bounce with a couple of minutes to spare.

Couldnt do it now though as have had 2 viral infections in short space of each other so training has tailed off somewhat of late.

 

[JamesL]

i reckon if you gave me 2 weeks notice to run 17/22 4k, i'd cruise it.

if you gave me 2 weeks notice to run 2600m in 12 mins i'd get nowhere near.

i'd fail the sprints for both though!

My aim is to always be in a position where if FA rang me up and hauled me in for a test I can just do it. That should be close to minimum expectation. Especially the new test.

I appreciate the cooper is harder and does require specific training for but I always wanted to be ready for it. I train for the fitness test at a level higher so that I am so relaxed, comfortable and confident on test day. Just takes 1 stress away.

 

[RefereeX]

I find the FIFA one so much easier.

Although, that said, whilst we're showing off, I recently ran 13k in 58 minutes which I worked out to be 5 level 4 cooper tests on the bounce with a couple of minutes to spare.

Couldnt do it now though as have had 2 viral infections in short space of each other so training has tailed off somewhat of late.

I was almost hoping for a cooper test at the assessment day, as a chance to score 'bonus points'

I recently did 5km in under 19 mins. At 4min/km you're getting 3000m.

Will admit that 5km did nearly kill me though haha!

 

[JamesL]

I was almost hoping for a cooper test at the assessment day, as a chance to score 'bonus points'

I recently did 5km in under 19 mins. At 4min/km you're getting 3000m.

Will admit that 5km did nearly kill me though haha!

You're quicker than me. Sub 20 5k is on my hit list..about a minute to knock off. That said, I haven't tried for a while and I might be closer than I think given what I can do in an hour.

 

[RefereeX]

You're quicker than me. Sub 20 5k is on my hit list..about a minute to knock off. That said, I haven't tried for a while and I might be closer than I think given what I can do in an hour.

You'd be surprised! I bet you'd get alot closer now (once you're back to full fitness from your viral infections!) I managed to knock 25 seconds per km off from my 10km time to my 5km time. If you can do the same from your 13km time to your 5km time you're pretty much there!

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

My only worry, if I ever make it to 4 or above (which I'd very much like to!), is the sprints.

Some people just aren't explosive and even though I am fast enough once I get up to speed it can take a few tenths longer than some.

I was a middle distance runner in school, turn up to 5Ks with no training to run 22 mins at uni, I know I can hack the longer stuff.

In matches I can pre-empt players actions to avoid being massively behind play but obviously not much help at a test!

 

[RefereeX]

My only worry, if I ever make it to 4 or above (which I'd very much like to!), is the sprints.

Some people just aren't explosive and even though I am fast enough once I get up to speed it can take a few tenths longer than some.

I was a middle distance runner in school, turn up to 5Ks with no training to run 22 mins at uni, I know I can hack the longer stuff.

In matches I can pre-empt players actions to avoid being massively behind play but obviously not much help at a test!

In the level 3 test which uses timing gates, you get a step or so before the first gate so you're not completely at a standing start (although it's not a lot)

 

[JamesL]

In summer we did ours before. Not sure which is more beneficial to be honest.

I stand corrected. I've gone back and checked and can see they should be 1st. They were always after (cooper test) when I was a L4.

 

[santa sangria]

I find the FIFA one so much easier.

Although, that said, whilst we're showing off, I recently ran 13k in 58 minutes which I worked out to be 5 level 4 cooper tests on the bounce with a couple of minutes to spare.

Couldnt do it now though as have had 2 viral infections in short space of each other so training has tailed off somewhat of late.

Well if we’re whistle swinging…

Please take my 5,02 40m into account from last year’s test.

And please also take a moment to worship my 8.47s CODA (which obviously I don’t like to remind any of my colleagues HALF MY AGE PROBABLY LESS about, also last year, 8.47, did I say 8.47 with gates

I top out at 2850 Cooper tho

 

[santa sangria]

In the level 3 test which uses timing gates, you get a step or so before the first gate so you're not completely at a standing start (although it's not a lot)

1.5m IIRC. Enough to put even more context to just how lightning quick e.g. American footballers do 40 yards from a standing start in kit. Insane.

 

[santa sangria]

I found myself at the local indoor track last night with the intervals set up. Half hour warm up rowing and stretching. I didn’t do the sprints but did the FIFA 75/25 4k with 17s/20s which is our target.

And it was actually really smooth. Way too easy somehow. I was in HR zone 4 the whole way. For me felt like a 2500 cooper. I reckon 15s/18s is doable and I’ll try in a few weeks. That will be much tougher.

Not doing the sprints first helped. Banked indoor track helped. Various athletic types hanging out rather than the tension of being surrounded by referees half my age also helped I think. I am very happy.

 

[Ben448844]

Let's be truthful about the level 4 fitness test, it's an absolute breeze. I've witnessed a number of people who aren't remotely close to being fit (I'm being very kind here) pass the test & I know of 2 referees who have continued at 4 because they have changed the test (they knew they had no chance of completing the cooper test).

The sprints are not 'explosive', they are comfortable for anyone who is injury free and has even a remote level of fitness.

Where I am the referees are trying the fitness test for the first time and I've been very clear with them that if they have worked on their fitness then they will not fail.

 

[es1]

Let's be truthful about the level 4 fitness test, it's an absolute breeze. I've witnessed a number of people who aren't remotely close to being fit (I'm being very kind here) pass the test & I know of 2 referees who have continued at 4 because they have changed the test (they knew they had no chance of completing the cooper test).

The sprints are not 'explosive', they are comfortable for anyone who is injury free and has even a remote level of fitness.

Where I am the referees are trying the fitness test for the first time and I've been very clear with them that if they have worked on their fitness then you will not fail.

Agree with this...at 4 the fitness test is basically a box ticking exercise with little to no proper invigilation on the day. I've seen time extended on the Cooper test to allow people to 'pass' and sprints not timed.

 

[Ben448844]

Agree with this...at 4 the fitness test is basically a box ticking exercise with little to no proper invigilation on the day. I've seen time extended on the Cooper test to allow people to 'pass' and sprints not timed.

For the level of football level 4s will be refereeing, failing the new fitness test has to be a severe wake up call for any referee that they're miles away from where they need to be. Also, by definition one of the reasons people are at level 4 is the possibility of becoming a 3, and if they're struggling with the new test then what is the point of continuing at 4 because there's zero chance of passing the level 3 test.

I've seen a very well known level 4 (former 3) in the South West who is in his 60s pass the sprints. OK, he is an absolute animal when it comes to fitness and runs marathons but by his own admission he can no longer sprint well but he passed the sprints. So when I see those in their 20s struggle on the test and talk all kinds of nonsense afterwards my eyes glaze over.

 

[santa sangria]

Let's be truthful about the level 4 fitness test, it's an absolute breeze. I've witnessed a number of people who aren't remotely close to being fit (I'm being very kind here) pass the test & I know of 2 referees who have continued at 4 because they have changed the test (they knew they had no chance of completing the cooper test).

The sprints are not 'explosive', they are comfortable for anyone who is injury free and has even a remote level of fitness.

Where I am the referees are trying the fitness test for the first time and I've been very clear with them that if they have worked on their fitness then they will not fail.

Agreed.
I’m rowing back on my earlier comment.

75m 17s is 3:47 m/km pace. And that’s lovely with all the breaks.
75m 15s is 3:20 m/km pace. Much more challenging.

 

[RustyRef]

For the level of football level 4s will be refereeing, failing the new fitness test has to be a severe wake up call for any referee that they're miles away from where they need to be. Also, by definition one of the reasons people are at level 4 is the possibility of becoming a 3, and if they're struggling with the new test then what is the point of continuing at 4 because there's zero chance of passing the level 3 test.

I've seen a very well known level 4 (former 3) in the South West who is in his 60s pass the sprints. OK, he is an absolute animal when it comes to fitness and runs marathons but by his own admission he can no longer sprint well but he passed the sprints. So when I see those in their 20s struggle on the test and talk all kinds of nonsense afterwards my eyes glaze over.

Agree, the new L4 test is vastly easier than the old Cooper test. At every single L4 test people failed or crawled over the line with seconds to spare, yet with the new one there seems to be very few failures unless injury related

 

[Ben448844]

Agree, the new L4 test is vastly easier than the old Cooper test. At every single L4 test people failed or crawled over the line with seconds to spare, yet with the new one there seems to be very few failures unless injury related

I did 2 cooper tests and people failed. Most failed due to an 'injury' during the test (which in most occasions it was clear during the test that they were way behind the required pace before they became 'injured'.)

None of them accepted the fact that it was because they weren't fit enough. My issue with the new test is that for those that want to progress higher (and i want to be clear some of those who failed are better referees than me), presumably the gap between where refs needed to be from a fitness perspective from 4 upwards has widened. For me the test isn't just about whether you're fit enough for the first rung of semi professional football, but particularly for younger aspiring refs its about whether you're on the right track of getting yourself used to the fitness demands required should you be good enough to progress.

 

[JamesL]

Fitness test for level 4 just went up a notch.

Sprints now have to be completed in 6.2 (was 7.5) seconds with a timing gate (was not gated)

 

[dylanbailey4444]

Fitness test for level 4 just went up a notch.

Sprints now have to be completed in 6.2 (was 7.5) seconds with a timing gate (was not gated)

Maybe it’s part of trying to cut down on the number of level 4’s as they know that there are too many ?