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Uhm...I was there, it was a mizture of grade 6 upgrades and grade 5 people. It was well over 50 trust me...it was split into time periods/groups and it started ten minutes late from the time it should have.We have a good system now, and even now still trying to improve it. Unfortunately, not everyone takes advantage of it. Only a small percentage really train themselves in any capacity. In this video are the Grade 5 hopefuls, all of whom are excellent referees and anyone would be lucky to have them on their game, but it is just that, luck, because they don't do a lot of games relative to the 2k+ referee pool in San Diego alone. I think there were probably 50 referees at that fitness test, and that is from SD, OC, and LA combined.
I don't think you were there because this video shows the (only) Grade 5 fitness test, not one of the several grade 6 ones. Everyone in the video was either a grade 5 or grade 5 hopeful. The grade 6 one is a physical joke, sure, but the real point is not the fitness, but the commitment to even show up and care enough about your reffing career. No one jogs 2.5 miles for fun (I know, I know, some people do, but we are talking about normal people here).Uhm...I was there, it was a mizture of grade 6 upgrades and grade 5 people. It was well over 50 trust me...it was split into time periods/groups and it started ten minutes late from the time it should have.
Overall, as a young guy I think the fitness aspect of the test is weak. Even the older guys limping could finish this test. For this very reason obtaining a state badge seems of less value nowadays. Now a grade 5 fitness test is more intense. The sprints that need to be done in 9 seconds are not challenging. I just semi sprinted those so I wouldn't be tired for the laps, it was my first time taking it without any real practice.
On my last try I got the Sprint in 5.37 seconds, grade 5 requires a 6.2 or below to pass I believe. So, you can imagine that it isn't too significant. recovery times are lower, but overall I feel that this fitness test is bogus.
Anyone that really wants to compete at the highest level should be examined on the field and see how their fitness is in relation to the players. I seriously doubt half of those referees could keep up with say a USL teams fitness level...