What is it about?
Within sporting environments, it is inevitable that sports personnel will find themselves using cues to generate expectations of others with whom they interact. This paper examines the effect of two sources of informational cues - levels of experience and chosen qualification pathway - on soccer players' and coaches' judgements of perceived refereeing competence.
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Why is it important?
Results showed that experienced referees scored significantly higher for all characteristics of refereeing competence compared to those with limited experience. Whilst differences in qualification pathway yielded no significant main effects, referees who had qualified via the Longitudinal method were perceived as significantly more competent communicators than the referees who were portrayed as products of the Fast-track scheme. This finding reflects a need for the development of more supportive resources that could help facilitate the acquisition and application of effective communication skills used by referees. Furthermore, through developing their knowledge of impression management, referees may be able to optimize their control of future interactions and reduce the likelihood of interpersonal conflict.
Perspectives
As it is the role of an official to promote the highest standards of the game for both players and coaches alike, it is vital that working relationships are not adversely affected by perceptions of competence. It is hoped that this article has highlighted a potential way in which officials may harness the information they present to players and coaches prior to interaction, to help induce a positive first impression.
Luke Oldfield
Leeds Beckett University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Examining the effect of experience and qualification pathway when forming initial expectancies of refereeing competence., Sport Exercise and Performance Psychology, September 2019, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/spy0000188.
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