Before jetting off to Qatar for the World Cup, Wythenshawe Premier League referee Anthony Taylor acclimatised to the warm conditions by undergoing a specialised three-week heat programme hosted by the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport.
Taylor stepped out to officiate his first game of the finals on Monday when South Korea took on Ghana in Group G. Qatari temperatures can rise to as high as 30 degrees in winter and so the 44-year-old was eager to ensure he prepared for the conditions in the Middle East.
The Champions League referee is currently undergoing a Master of Sports Directorship course at the university and so the institution designed a short course to help his body get used to strenuous climates.
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This consisted of working within an environmental chamber, which is a room that can be used to measure how the body reacts to various heat conditions. During Taylor’s programme, temperatures reached up to 40-degrees celsius and humidity levels rose by as much as 70 per cent.
This environment is more intense than what he is likely to experience in Qatar but the results of the programme were telling. After each session, Taylor recorded lower core body temperatures and his overall heart rate was down.
An increased sweat-rate showed his body was adapting to the heat conditions, too. Sports Performance lecturer Dr Dale Read explained: “Through a series of training sessions in a controlled – and challenging – environment, we have seen both physiological improvements in Anthony and perceptual improvements.
“This means that not only did Anthony’s body show signs it was adapting to the extreme conditions, but he also felt more comfortable with the training after the three-week period.
“I’m positive this will be hugely beneficial to him in his matches in Qatar. Anthony has been extremely dedicated to his preparation for the World Cup and this shows in the results.
“We have seen improvements across the board in the test and this should allow him to deal with the heat while refereeing in the World Cup.” Taylor himself noted the importance of acclimatising to the conditions in Qatar.
“The climate out in the Middle East is totally different to what we are used to in Europe, and particularly in a tournament environment,” he said. “Making sure you are at peak physical fitness so you can cope with the demands of not only a 90-minute match, but a match that goes to extra time, is really important.
“There is also the possibility, if things go well performance-wise, you might end up having to officiate two or three games in very quick succession. So it’s important to make sure your body is injury-proof and robust enough to meet the demands and the fitness of the tournament.”
“It’s certainly hot, it's something different when you’re in that chamber. I think while I’ve been reffing in the Premier League and Champions League, you do feel a difference in terms of your physical performance in the game.”
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