“Friday Night is their Super Bowl”: A Relational Investigation Regarding Occupational Stress Among American High School Football Officials

Abstract

This interpretive research explores American high school football officials’ perceptions of occupational stress experienced both on and off the field. Within the United States, there is a current shortage of high school football officials. Overall individualistic identification within the association and how members make sense of their position on and off the field contribute to occupational stress. The research focused on one Southern Californian high school football organization officiating for youth, high school, and some college football. Data was collected through both semi-structured face-to-face interviews as well as analysis of field notes from football games and similar settings. This research utilized the theoretical framework of sensemaking as well as thematic analysis as a method in order to better understand and make sense of how members within the organization identify and manage stressful and hostile football-related situations. (Inter)personal relational stress-impacted themes emerged from the data: (1) with coaches, (2) with parents, and (3) with other officials.