Regional Referee Fitness Testing

Referees certifying or recertifying as Regional Referees must have passed the fitness test in the current or previous registration year.

Complete FIFA Test Guide

View FIFA's complete fitness test document for detailed guidance and standards.

Open FIFA Fitness Tests PDF

Overview and Standards

The test has two parts: a Repeated Sprint Ability test and the Interval Test. Male Regional Referees must meet FIFA Women's Category 1 standards, and female Regional Referees must meet FIFA Women's Category 3 standards.

Test Component Male Regional Requirement Female Regional Requirement
Repeated Sprint Ability (6 X 40m sprints) Maximum 6.40 seconds per trial Maximum 6.60 seconds per trial
Interval Test (40 X 75m run / 25m walk) Maximum 17s run and 20s walk Maximum 17s run and 24s walk

Repeated Sprint Ability Test

Referees complete 6 X 40m sprints with up to 60 seconds recovery between trials. Timing should use electronic gates when available. If one trial is failed, one additional trial is allowed immediately after the sixth trial. Failing two trials means the test is failed.

  • Start gate at 0m and finish gate at 40m.
  • Start line marked 1.5m before the start gate.
  • Referees begin from standing with front foot on the start line.
  • Recovery should be walking back to start during each interval.
FIFA setup graphic for repeated sprint and interval testing

Interval Test

Referees complete 40 X 75m run and 25m walk intervals (4,000m total). Pace is controlled by audio and monitored by test leaders. U.S. Soccer runs this on a grass field.

  • Start from standing position, and only after whistle signal.
  • At each run end, place a foot in the walking area on time.
  • First miss receives warning; second miss results in failure.
  • Groups should be monitored closely by assigned test leaders.

Interval Audio Files

Male Regional Referee Interval Test

Female Regional Referee Interval Test

Upcoming Fitness Testing Sessions