Author(s): AHMED, H., DIXON, D., DAVISON, G., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF SULAIMANI, Country: IRAQ, Abstract-ID: 418

INTRODUCTION:
Introduction: Mental fatigue is a psychological phenomenon that is caused by prolonged and/or demanding cognitive activity. It is important to estimate factors that impair referees’ performance especially in the second half of a football match. There is limited research on the potential effects of mental fatigue on both physical and cognitive performance of referees.
METHODS:
Methods: Twelve (12) active football referees aged between 18-45 years (mean ± SD: age 32.3 ± 10.0 years) were recruited from Kent County Football Association (KCFA) to take part in the study. The referees were required to visit the laboratory on three separate occasions: a familiarisation (visit 1) and two main trials (control and mental fatigue, visits 2 and 3). Referees were required to perform a 90 min intermittent treadmill protocol after 30 min of a Stroop task: either incongruent (mental fatigue condition) or congruent (control condition). They were required to undertake the FIFA video clip test (decision-making) at the beginning (during warm-up: 13 min) and end of exercise (last 13 min). Exercise was an intermittent test which lasted 90 min in total. Heart rate, RPE and blood lactate measures were recorded before, during and after exercise. Referees also completed the PVT before and after the Stroop task, at half time and post-exercise, and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) before and after the pre-match PVT and after the post-match PVT.
RESULTS:
Result: The mental fatigue condition caused a significant decrease in decision-making performance (correct decisions, beginning: 76.7 ± 7.2% decreased to end exercise: 64.6 ± 7.8%, p < 0.001) compared to no change in the control condition). The PVT performance was also significantly reduced post-Stroop test, at half time and post-exercise, but to a greater extent in the mental fatigue condition (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion: mental fatigue had a negative impact on referees’ cognitive performance during and after exercise. This may have implications for optimising referees’ preparation and cognitive performance in real matches, which should be explored further.