Examining the Relationship between Referee Self-efficacy and General Self-efficacy Levels of Football, Basketball and Handball Referees

Aydın Karaçam,Atilla Pulur

doi:10.13189/ujer.2017.050914

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between referee self-efficacy and general self-efficacy levels of football, basketball and handball referees in terms of gender, refereeing branch, age and refereeing experience. Study group was created within a convenience sampling method. 195 referees, 14% (n = 27) female and 86% (n = 168) male, who perform active refereeing within Turkish Football, Basketball and Handball Federations during 2016-2017 season participated in the study. The personal information form, Referee Self-Efficacy Scale (REFS) developed by Karacam and Pulur (2017) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) developed by Aypay (2010) were used as data collection tools. The analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS 21 and AMOS programs. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, t-test and one-way variance analysis (ANOVA) were used in determining the relationships between variables, binary and multiple comparisons, respectively. The REFS total scores levels of football, basketball and handball referees show a significant difference in favor of male referees. A significant difference was found between REFS total scores levels of football, basketball and handball referees and physical fitness sub-dimension, and refereeing branches in favor of football and basketball referees. There is a positive and significant relationship between football, basketball and handball referees' game knowledge, decision making, pressure, communication, total scores in REFS, and refereeing experience. There is a positive and significant relationship between football, basketball and handball referees' physical fitness, game knowledge, decision making, pressure, communication, total scores in GES and REFS.

Highlights

Referee self-efficacy was conceptualized within self-efficacy theory of Bandura [1], and self-efficacy in sports [2]
There is no significant difference in football, basketball and handball referees' physical fitness, pressure, communication and general self-efficacy levels compared to their genders
It was found that football, basketball and handball referees' physical fitness, game knowledge, decision making, pressure, communication and Referee Self-Efficacy Scale (REFS) total scores did not show any significant difference compared to refereeing branch variable (p > .05)

Summary

Introduction

Referee self-efficacy was conceptualized within self-efficacy theory of Bandura [1], and self-efficacy in sports [2]. When certain situational demands are considered, self-efficacy can be defined as one’s belief to accomplish behaviors resulting in desired consequences in a certain condition and ability to perform various levels of a task successfully [3,4].A strong self-efficacy provides achievement and well-being, and varying in personal development and capabilities. Referees should perform and accomplish more than one task during a competition under pressure in order not to make a mistake in their decisions. Under adverse conditions and pressure, referees should analyze and judge the events during the match, make quick decisions, referee the match, consider more than one dimension of the match, maintain the order and settle the disagreements [6,7]. Inefficacy, carelessness, wrong decisions, delayed responses in these tasks may result in an ultimate stress and burnout [8,9]

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Conclusion