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Abstract

María Clara Rodríguez Salazar, Walter Salazar Rojas y Francisco Arroyo Paz

The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of dehydration on soccer referee´s decisions and cognitive processes. Thirty referees of the Professional Soccer League of Costa Rica were selected at random and assigned to one of three experimental conditions: a) dehydration induced through exercise; b) rehydration: exercise with liquid intake; and c) a control group. Attention and concentration were measured through psychological tests at 0, 45, and .90 minutes of the session. Refereeing decisions were measured by means of a soccer game video; the referees had to judge the game verbally, while abiding by the corresponding protocol. Results indicate a significant interaction (p<0.05) between treatments applied and measurements for the variables assessed. Under dehydration conditions, the referees showed a significantly poorer judgment in their decisions and in the cognitive tests in comparison to those that were not dehydrated.