LEADING INTERCOUNTY football referee Paddy Russell recently took part in a ground-breaking experiment with the American Department of Defence.

Prof Niall Moyna, head of the School of Health and Human Performance at Dublin City University (DCU), said Russell became the first referee to be fitted with a space-age vest to record scientific data.

During the Armagh-Wexford All-Ireland football quarter-final at Croke Park on August 9th, Russell and his two linesmen wore the vest beneath their jerseys and their movements were monitored via GPS (Global Positioning System). Moyna said: "Cameras were fixed on the individuals to track their movement via satellite. We haven't analysed all of the data yet but the GPS system tracked their heart-rate and respiration, along with the standing, sprinting and jogging he did during the game. The vest gives us the information and the physiological data which we can then use to design referee training programmes."

Staff at DCU have been working closely in conjunction with the GAA's referees' association, monitoring the performances of top whistlers this year. Moyna revealed this latest research is part of a bigger project. He said: "In five years' time, every single sports jersey will have this embedded in them." Moyna added that the vest will be used on a more widespread basis by referees during next year's national leagues.

This huge study is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and Moyna said he has been "pleasantly surprised" by the fitness levels of intercounty referees, many of whom are almost on a par with top players.