Physical and physiological demands of handball refereeing: a systematic review

Referees in handball games are an essential but relatively understudied component of the complex and dynamic game of team handball. The performance of refereeing decisions is vital for the integrity of the game and is closely related to their physical capacity and physiological state. The physical demands of playing team handball are well researched. However, an overall and well-founded picture of the external (e.g., movement patterns and accelerations) and internal (e.g., heart rate and perceived exertion) load of referees in team handball is missing. The current state of knowledge is piecemeal and prevents the development of standardized fitness tests and training and recovery strategies for referees. The purpose of this systematic review is to bring together all available empirical research.