Ted blog post: Running test 2021-05-25

Running test and so ready for the season!

Now the season is finally starting in most places. I know that som regions in Sweden example Halland and Skåne will start with matches the next weekend and with a normal double meeting. The spread of infection and Covid looks better and everything indicates that we can, even in Småland, start playing matches. However, with single series as it is decided on right now. Finally! I will not interfere in the "political" questions too much, but I think it is very strange and difficult to understand that we allow people to sit and drink alcohol until 22.30, but my son who is 6 years old has not been allowed to play matches. Public health first, they say!

With that said, my son who is 6 years old and plays football, what luck and so much fun it is that they at least got to train. And also for me to being a coach for that team, it's so much fun! Love it. The highlight of the week, for sure, this spring has definitely been to go down there and play, plan and talk to all the kids. And just to "breathe" football for real, for a short time.

As you can see, football is a big part of my life. Gave it a thought the other day. In recent weeks, I had two youth referee courses for a couple of clubs in Kalmar, I am a coach once a week, try to train with a div.4 team a couple of times a month, plus the refereeing which now hopefully starts. Then there is football at home more or less every day. Playing with the son or watch matches that go on TV. In between this I breathe football all the time! That said, a big part of my life is football and I still give a tear when i realize that i have chosen not to play. But my God, what I just want the matches to start now - at all levels. I want to go to a match with my referee colleagues, talk about everything, set up a match plan, have a match review, see some nice goals, take care of and calm down an angry leader or player, leave a really nice advantage that leads to a goal and take a coffee after the match and talk to friends, and coaches in the clubs. Damn what I miss it!

I have had one match this year, but now we are hoping for more. I'm so ready and everything that we referees have to do, is done. Rules tests, running tests and everything else is checked off.

I get a lot of questions from friends, players in clubs and others about the running test. How are your running tests? Do you think I can fix it? How difficult is it? Every year, we referees, regardless of level, from div.6 (the lowest) series up to elites, must pass the running tests. At my level step 2, I get to referee the Elite ladies on the line, div.2 men on the line and up to div 1 ladies and 4/5 men as the head referee. For that level, you must be able to:

Interval test (procedure)

1. The referees shall run a fixed number of 75m interval and 25m walk. 44 repetitions corresponds to 4400m or 11 laps on a 400m running track. Alternatively, you can carry out the test on a football pitch, it is important to measure the distance 75/25m. The tempo is controlled by an audio file and the reference time is set according to the category to which the referee belongs. In step two, we have 17 seconds to complete 75m, then 20 seconds to rest and walk 25m and repeat this 44 times.
   
   
2. The referees start from a standing position and must not start before the signal.
   
   
3. At the end of each run, the referees shall pass the marked area (1.5m before goal and 1.5m after goal) before goal before the signal arrives.
   
   
4. If the referee fails to arrive within the marking area on time, the test leader shall warn the referee. If the judge misses twice, the test fails.
   
   
5. It is recommended that the test be performed in groups with a maximum of six judges. It is possible to have four groups running at the same time, which means a total of 24 judges who can test at the same time.

After this test, we also have a "Sprint test" where we must complete 40m in a maximum of 6.6 seconds. You have 6 times and must have 4 approved attempts. See below:

Sprint (approach)

1. Electronic timing (photocell) can be used as timing of the sprints. If (photocell) is not available, an official must use a timer.
2. The start area is marked out 1.5 m before the location of the photocell / start line.
3. The judges must start with their front foot on the starting line. When the test leader signals that it is ready the referee start running.
4. The referee have 60 seconds to recover between each 40 meter run. During their recovery, the judges will walk back to the start.
5. If a referee falls or stumbles, they are given a new opportunity to run 1 x 40 m.
6. If a judge misses one of the reps, the referee may make a new attempt immediately after the last attempt. If the referee misses two attempts, the referee has missed the test and are not approved.

You can pass this test, if you train reasonably. Test for yourself! If you do not train, you will not be able to make it. I have been training two or three good running sessions on average per week all year and this test was no problem for me - I am ready!

Now we start with the matches and I will blog about my matches, thoughts and special events during the year. Tonight is training with the 6-year-olds - looking forward to it!