## 1 Introduction  
Due to their physical activity levels and a number of other characteristics, including age, competitive level, and sex, soccer referees and assistant referees are exposed to injury [1, 2]. High, ankle, knee, and lower back injuries are most common in soccer referees [2, 3]. Referees in soccer undergo routine physical evaluations similar to players, covering distances of 9-13 km per match. High-intensity running spans 4-18% of the match, and elite referees make more than 130 decisions while changing their activity around 1270 times during a game [4]. Thus, implementing preventive measures is essential to safeguard their well-being [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9].  
In 2013, the FIFA refereeing department collaborated with the Medical and Research Centre (F-MARC) to create the FIFA 11+ Referees Injury Prevention Program. This program was created specifically to address the injury profile of referees and includes a full warm-up exercise aimed at improving muscular strength, body awareness, and neuromuscular control [1]. The primary distinction between the standard FIFA 11+ and the referee-specific version lies in the intensity and volume of the exercises. Both protocols adhere to the same foundational principles; however, the referee-specific variant has been tailored to address the unique demands placed on referees and to mitigate the risk of knee injuries in this population [1]. One of the frequently performed movements in soccer is the change of direction maneuver (COD), which, if not executed with optimal neuromuscular control system (NMS), can increase the risk of lower extremity injuries [10]. In soccer, the nature of the game involves high-intensity intermittent activity lasting for 90 min. Poor movement patterns during play can increase the likelihood of injury [11; 12]. The prevalence of sports injuries among soccer referees has highlighted the importance of utilizing pre-participation screening tools [2; 5; 6; 13; 14]. These tools aim to enhance physical performance abilities, ultimately reducing the risk of injuries [13; 14]. One of the screening tools used in field sports is the cutting movement assessment score (CMAS), which was initially introduced in 2017 and is aimed at screening COD maneuver quality [15]. The cutting movement assessment score (CMAS) is a qualitative method for analyzing movement quality during side-step cutting maneuvers. Using two or three cameras, the tool assesses nine postural and technical factors linked to excessive knee abduction moments. The total CMAS score correlates with the magnitude of peak knee abduction moments measured by advanced 3D motion analysis. It can differentiate between safe and risky cutting techniques and measure the effectiveness of movement correction programs [16].  
Previous studies have demonstrated that injury prevention programs designed by FIFA have been effective in enhancing movement quality in soccer athletes of different ages and genders [17; 18]. For instance, a 65% injury reduction in referees was reported following the FIFA 11+ program, highlighting its effectiveness [1]. This study aimed to assess the impact of the 24-week FIFA 11+ Referees program on CMAS scores, hypothesizing improved scores and enhanced COD maneuver quality.