Abstract
This study explores the psycho-physiological impact of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on soccer referees, aiming to inform the development of training programmes that integrate educational psychology principles. It investigates how HIIT influences both mental health and physical performance, compared to alternative training methods, such as Small-Sided Games (SSG). A comprehensive review of 60 studies on the effects of HIIT on soccer referees was conducted, with 15 studies selected through rigorous screening. Credible databases were systematically searched, and biases were evaluated using the PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework to ensure methodological robustness. The study compared the physiological and psychological effects of HIIT and SSG therapies on soccer referees, incorporating funnel plot analysis to assess potential publication bias. The results indicated that SSG sprint training outperforms alternative methods in terms of sprint ability. However, HIIT was found to yield higher mental component summary scores, suggesting potential mental health benefits. The funnel plot revealed potential publication bias, and moderate heterogeneity was observed across studies, raising caution in interpreting the results. Despite these variations, HIIT demonstrated significant improvements in mental health and sprint performance compared to controls. The findings suggest that HIIT can be an effective method for enhancing both the mental and physical fitness of soccer referees. However, the observed heterogeneity and potential biases indicate the need for further research to validate these results and optimise training programmes. Tailored interventions based on these findings could improve officiating efficacy and promote the overall well-being of referees.