Handball Referees Research Articles

A Global Positioning System Used to Monitor the Physical Performance of Elite Beach Handball Referees in a Spanish Championship.

Beach handball is a fully developed sporting discipline on all five continents which has attracted the attention of researchers in the last decade, resulting in a proliferation of different studies focusing on players but not on referees. The main objective of this cross-sectional research was to determine the physical demands on elite male beach handball referees in four different competitions: U18 male; U18 female; senior male; and senior female. Twelve elite federated male referees (age: 30.86 ± 8 years; body height: 175.72 ± 4.51 cm; body weight: 80.18 ± 17.99 kg; fat percentage: 20.1 ± 4.41%; national or international experience) belonging to the Technical Committee of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation were recruited for this the study. The physical demands required of referees in official matches were measured by installing a GPS device. The sampling frequency used to record their speed and distance was 15 Hz. A triaxial accelerometer (100 Hz) was used to determine their acceleration. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) between competitions with post hoc comparisons using the Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare among categories. A higher distance covered in zone 1 and speeds of 0 to 6 km-h-1 were recorded. Most accelerations and decelerations occurred in zones 0 and 1 (zone 0: 0 to 1 m·s-2; zone 1: 1 to 2 m·s-2). The lack of differences (p > 0.05) between most analysed variables suggest quite similar physical demands of the four analysed competitions. These results provide relevant information to design optimal training plans oriented to the real physical demands on referees in an official competition.

Adapting the Emotion Regulation Scale for Athletes for Use with Referees and Examining Its Psychometric Properties

This study has aimed to adapt the Emotion Regulation Scale for Athletes (ERSA) developed by Tingaz and Altun (2021) for referees. Materials and Methods: Using the convenience sampling method, 355 class referees actively serving within the basketball and handball federations in 2021-2022 were included in the study. Of the referee group, 52.11% (n=185) were basketball referees, 32.11% (n=114) were Football referees, and 15.77% (n=56) were handball referees. There were 35 (9.86%) female and 320 (90.14%) male referees. The mean age and seniority of the participants were 31.12 and 10.21 years, respectively. Data analysis was done using the SPSS 21 and AMOS programs. Principal component analysis and varimax rotation techniques were used to test the scale's construct validity. Criterion validity was calculated with Pearson's correlation coefficient. As a result, a two-factor structure with eigenvalues greater than one emerged. Internal consistency coefficients were calculated as .83 for the Cognitive Reappraisal and .76 for the Suppression. The CFA analysis revealed x2/df=1.603, RMSEA=.07, CFI=.96, GFI=.93, RMR=.10 NFI=.90, and IFI=96. Overall, the study suggested that the Emotion Regulation Scale for Referees (ERSR) was a valid and reliable tool to measure emotion regulation among referees.

The handball referee’s personality through the lens of players and coaches

Refereeing in handball is a complex exercise involving numerous decisions and interactions among players and coaches. To meet the demands of officiating a game, (e.g., withstand the pressure generated by spectators or managing critical situations), referees need to have a certain personality type. Since the sport of handball faces an acute shortage of referees and the recruitment of suitable individuals becomes increasingly difficult, personality research can provide practical guidance for the identification of potential candidates. When determining the personality characteristics necessary for refereeing, taking an external perspective and collecting information from others can provide a more objective assessment of an individual’s personality than self-assessment. For this reason, an online qualitative survey was conducted to collect data from 89 German handball players and 35 coaches. Based on the principles of qualitative content analysis, a large part of the responses could first be structured and assigned to the five-factor model. The remaining responses were then categorised, which allowed four categories to emerge: (i) character and leadership, (ii) judgement and decision-making, (iii) game management, and (iv) physical fitness and cognitive demands. The findings contribute to expanding knowledge about the crucial personality characteristics that shape handball referees’ personality and suggest that the performance profile of handball referees shows similarities to that of other team sports officials. In our conclusion, we outline research directions with high practical relevance for the recruitment and development of referees, e.g., the study of referees’ assertiveness, need for evaluation, preference for consistency, or self-efficacy.

A new Bayesian procedure for the estimation of the referees' decision thresholds and agreement. The case of professional handball refereeing

In double refereeing, agreement between referees is fundamental for the achievement of a flawless and smooth refereeing activity. Nonetheless, the agreeement can be affected by several external and internal factors, with a negative impact on the consistency of the refereeing and the fluidity of the game. The referee’s Decision Threshold (DT) is the limit above which the evidence of a foul results in the call of an infraction by the referee. It represents the individual refereeing style, and it is one of the factors that can contribute to low agreement between the referees. We present an application of a new Bayesian procedure to estimate referee’s DT in a typical refereeing task. To this end, 56 italian professional handball (FIGH) referees were asked to evaluate 96 potential foul plays, belonging to four different infraction types: 7-m throw, passive play, offensive foul, disciplinary sanctions. The proposed method provides information about: (i) referee’s individual DT; (ii) the agreement between pairs of referees (i.e., one-to-one); (iii) the agreement between each referee and all the other referees (i.e., one-to-total); (iv) the agreement between each referee and a reference referee (i.e., one-to-expert); (v) the proportion of agreement between the referees and a reference referee for each potential foul play. Sport federations would profit by this procedure in different ways: by using the information about the DT to train referees, by detecting referees with a low agreement with their colleagues or with the reference referee, by focusing training on specific plays to improve the arbitration class internal consistency.

The Effect of Physiological Load during Matches on the Quality of Refereeing in Handball Referees

The Effect of Physiological Load during Matches on the Quality of Refereeing in Handball Referees

Coping with external stressors in handball and football elite refereeing: The relationship with referee efficacy

This study investigated the association between referee efficacy and self-reported coping with external stressors among elite handball and football referees. The participants were 224 Norwegian elite referees of handball (n = 111, m age = 35.3 years, 13.5% females) and football (113, m age = 30.8 years, 8% females) who had been referees for an average of 14.4 years (sd = 7.77 years; min: 4, max: 37) and a referee at the present level for 6.8 years (sd = 6.20 years, min: 1, max: 32). Referee self-efficacy was measured using the Norwegian version of the Referee Self-Efficacy Scale. Self-reported coping with external stressors was measured using responses to statements related to the referee’s self-perceived decision-making process in the presence of several sources of external stressors. Referee self-efficacy was positively associated with coping with external stressors (b = .24 (se = .11), p = .021). Football referees reported higher levels of coping with external stressors (b = .28 (se = .08), p = .001) than handball referees, and the number of years of elite refereeing was positively related to coping with external stressors. The findings provide evidence of a positive relationship between referee efficacy and coping with external stressors when making decisions.
 
 Keywords: Referee Self-Efficacy Scale, decision-making, social pressure, team sport referees

Does Age, Experience and Body Fat Have an Influence on the Performance of Handball Referees?

The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation of quality of the refereeing in handball with the morphological characteristics of referees, along with their age and experience. Subjects are 16 pairs (N = 32) of top-level handball referees in Croatia (age 34.66 ± 6.44, height 184.02 ± 5.87 cm, body mass 91.14 ± 10.61 kg, body fat 19.20 ± 3.94% and body mass index 26.91 ± 2.47 kg/m²) which have conducted morphological measures and tests for determination of their morphological status in the first part of the study. In the second part of the study, referees were evaluated in top-level handball matches to determine if their morphological status had an influence on the quality of refereeing. The correlation of quality of the refereeing with body fat was tested and there is no significant correlation (p = 0.75). Pearson’s correlation coefficient proves that total experience in refereeing does not have an influence on the quality of refereeing (r = 0.30), and neither does the age of referees (r = 0.23). Experience of refereeing in the highest rank has a statistically significant influence on the quality of refereeing (r = 0.62). Existing elimination criteria (measurement of morphological characteristics and functional abilities at official tests) that referees must satisfy at official seminars before the beginning and in the middle of the season make the selection of referees. Based on these facts, it is concluded that the existing selection of referees is good and there is no great variability among them, considering their morphological characteristics. Experience in refereeing is significant for the quality of refereeing, especially experience in the highest level of competition.

Personality profile of amateur team handball referees

Referees play a central role in competitive sport. Particularly in amateur sport, referees contribute significantly to making participation in sport possible for the masses. However, considering that every referee’s career starts at the grassroots level, it is very surprising that there has been no research on the personality traits of amateur referees so far. The current state of research indicates that personality is an essential component of the requirement profile of referees. Personality has been associated with job performance, particularly with regard to resilience and coping with pressure. Personality also affects effective game management in terms of influencing actions in the game in a preventative and proactive manner. This study, therefore, examines the personality profile of amateur handball referees (n = 582) for the first time using the German version of the Big Five Inventory 2 (BFI-2). Current data from German handball referees at the expert level and the German general population were used to compare and discuss the results. Except for lower scores in the domain of extraversion and the facets of sociability and energy level as well as a higher score in the facet of aesthetic sensitivity, amateur referees did not differ significantly from expert referees. In relation to the general population, the results indicate that handball referees, regardless of performance level, have higher scores in assertiveness, emotional stability, and responsibility. Our findings create awareness of personality traits in handball refereeing and illustrate the applied relevance of personality research, e.g., for coaching or recruitment activities.

Cardiorespiratory fitness status of elite handball referees in Hungary.

In various team sports, such as handball, referees work on the court by continuously moving with the players. Therefore, their physical fitness also has an impact on their reaction time, which could affect their professional decisions. The cardiorespiratory fitness status of healthy Hungarian elite handball referees was examined via body composition analysis and vita maxima cardiopulmonary exercise testing with lactate measurements. One hundred referees were examined (age: 29.0 ± 7.9 years; male: 64.0%; training: 4.3 ± 2.0 hours/week; ratio of former elite handball players: 39.0%; 51.0% first and 49.0% second division referees of the Hungarian National Handball Leagues). A resting heart rate (HR) of 79.0 ± 12.6 BPM was measured. On the basis of the body composition analysis the fat-free mass index proved to be 19.9 ± 2.6 kg/m2. The referees achieved a maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) of 44.6 ± 6.1 ml/kg/min, with a maximal HR of 187.2 ± 11.1 BPM (which was 98.1 ± 4.6% of their calculated maximal HR) and a peak lactate of 9.2 ± 3.2 mmol/l at 557.1 ± 168.3 sec on our continuous speed, increasing slope treadmill protocol. Second division referees were younger, on a weekly average they trained more, achieved higher treadmill exercise time (respectively, 463.8 ± 131.9 vs 658.4 ± 143.9 sec, p < 0.001) and anaerobic threshold time (respectively, 265.8 ± 100.9 vs 348.2 ± 117.1 sec, p < 0.001), while the two different divisional referees had similar V̇O2max values. Regarding our physical fitness measurements, huge individual differences were observed between the referees (exercise time range: 259.0–939.0 sec, V̇O2max range: 25.3–62.4 ml/kg/min). Since it can affect their performance as referees, individual training planning, regular physical fitness measurements, and strict selection methods are suggested.

Impact of psychological and physical load on the decision-making of top-class handball referees

ABSTRACT Referees are challenged for accurate decision-making under physical and psychological load. However, erroneous decision-making can lead referees to repeatedly negatively think about the error, i.e. they begin to ruminate. Previous studies focused on the relationship between decision-making and either physical or psychological load. Here, we examined the combined impact of physical and psychological load on top-class handball referees’ decision-making. N = 73 referees performed the Yo-Yo Test for Referees combined with psychological load induced through instantaneous feedback on the decisions to activate the referees’ rumination-trait, i.e. to test if low and high ruminating referees respond differently to load and feedback. Results indicate no effects of physical load on decision accuracy (i.e. foul vs. no foul), but referees’ reasonings accuracy (i.e. type of foul, punishment) decreased under medium external load. Moreover, low and high ruminating referees did statistically not differ in decision and reasoning accuracy. Results indicate that physical load may not affect decisions, but might affect reasonings. Thus, subsequent studies should incorporate decisions and reasonings in handball referees, especially against the background of referee’s development. For practitioners, the Yo-Yo Test for Referees seems a beneficial tool through the combination of physical likewise psychological load and a rule test in handball.

Decisions and reasonings of top-class handball referees under physical load

Correct decision-making under physical load is a central challenge for referees in sports games. Handball referees are assumed to make both a decision (calling a foul or no foul) and to call its reasonings (type of foul, punishments). However, the impact of physical load on these two aspects has not been differentiated so far. Here, in two studies, we aimed to investigate the hypothesised impact of physical load on both referees’ decisions and reasonings. To this end, N = 66 (study 1) and N = 73 (study 2) top-class handball referees performed the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test combined with a video-based decision-making test. Referees’ decisions improved from initial to medium physical load and they deteriorated under maximal physical load in study 1, whereas in study 2 the quality of the decisions was constant across physical load conditions. The percent of correct reasonings decreased from initial to medium physical load in study 1, whereas the opposite pattern was found in study 2. In both studies, reasoning performance did not change from medium to maximal physical load. Moreover, referees demonstrated better endurance performance in study 2 than in study 1. Despite some methodological limitations (e.g. familiarisation with the experimental setup in referees who participated in both studies), the present findings tentatively indicate that a well-trained endurance capacity may support referees’ decision-making, i.e. to make correct decisions and reasonings. Specifically, enhanced endurance capacity may lead to lower subjectively perceived fatigue, resulting in larger cognitive capacities that may facilitate referees’ decision-making.

Effect of Sports Vision on Vision Perception and Decision Making in Handball Referees

Effect of Sports Vision on Vision Perception and Decision Making in Handball Referees

Personality profile of team handball referees at expert level

Referees play a central role in every sport. Particularly at national level, referees must meet ever higher demands due to increasing professionalisation. While cognitive and conditional aspects have already been investigated intensively, personality traits of handball referees have so far only received little attention. In addition to a profound understanding of the game and knowledge of the rules, however, it is precisely the demands on referees’ personalities that are becoming increasingly important. Individual differences in personality are related to job performance in sports, especially with regard to coping with pressure and stress. Thus, personality is considered an essential component of the performance profile of referees and is required in the context of efficient game management. In this study, the personality profiles of male handball referees at expert level (N = 163) were examined for the first time, using the German version of the Big Five Inventory 2 (BFI-2). Standard values of the German general population from a population survey were used for comparison. Referees scored higher values in extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness and a lower value in negative emotionality. The results of this cross-sectional study provide initial insights into the personality of this group of referees and thus lay the foundation for further research. A study with referees from different performance levels or cultural backgrounds could provide information on whether the results of this study only apply to German handball referees at expert level or are valid for all handball referees.

Incidence of injury and pain in referees in German national handball leagues: a cohort study

BackgroundHandball referees play an important role during a handball match. Surprisingly, not much is known about their sports-related injuries and resulting pain, therefore the purpose of our study was to focus on injuries and sports-related pain in referees in German handball leagues.MethodsDuring the 2018/19 national German handball season, referees of the German Federation of Handball (DHB) were contacted and asked to complete an injury and pain questionnaire on the penultimate matchday of the first and the second round of the season.ResultsSeventy referees participated in the study. One in three referees reported an injury during the last year and perceived some form of pain. Of those suffering from pain, 16.7% referees reported chronic pain disorders. During the season, 31.4% of referees incurred an injury and the majority of the 70 referees officiated despite pain (n = 43). Prospectively-enrolled data suggested an incidence of 11.6 (95% CI: 10.3 to 13.0) injuries per 1000 match hours, and 19.0 (95% CI: 16.8 to 21.3) sports-related pain events per 1000 match hours. The most common injuries were foot and knee injuries and a substantial number of the referees (n = 25) reported taking analgesics for the pain.ConclusionGerman handball referees are at risk of sports-related injuries with subsequent pain. Considering the injury profile, the incidence of sports-related pain events, and the high physiological demands of refereeing, it appears that prevention programs should be developed and integrated into the routine of the referee.

External and internal load of Costa Rican handball referees according to sex and game periods

The purpose of this study was to analyze the external and internal load of Costa Rican handball referees according to sex and game periods. Nine referees (6 men and 3 women) were monitored during U19 handball matches, using an ultra-wide band local positioning system (UWB) and WIMUPro™ inertial units (IMU). The results showed a total distance of 4566.54±494.02 m (46.95% at 0-6 km/h, 32.97% at 6-12 km/h, 18.11% at 12-18 km/h and 1.96% &gt;18 km/h). 1298.34±151.42 m/s2 accelerations and 1297.73±152.09 m/s2 decelerations were performed. Maximal speed was 19.63±1.85 km/h and average speed was 4.80±0.34 km/h. Player LoadRT was 50.53±9.39 UA. Maximal and average heart rate was 170.59±18.20 bpm 143.06±16.94 bpm respectively. 60% of the efforts were &lt;80% of maximum heart rate. Total energy expenditure was 372.34±67.80 kcal. No significant differences were found in physiological variables between sexes, although men covered greater distance at 0-6 km/h. In the second periods the total distance (m/min), distance at 6-12 km/h, 12-18 km/h (m/min) and &gt;18 km/h, average speed, impacts at 3-5g and &gt;5g, Player LoadRT, and energy expenditure decreased. In conclusion, sex does not seem to affect the external or internal load, while the game period influenced on the external load.

Significance of extended sports cardiology screening of elite handball referees.

The significance of cardiology screening of referees is not well established. Cardiovascular risk factors and diseases were examined in asymptomatic Hungarian elite handball referees undergoing extended screening: personal/family history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, laboratory tests, body-composition analysis, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Holter-ECG (n = 8), blood pressure monitorization (n = 10), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR; n = 27) and computer tomography (CCT; n = 4) were also carried out if needed. We examined 100 referees (age: 29.6±7.9years, male: 64, training: 4.3±2.0 hours/week), cardiovascular risk factors were: positive medical history: 24%, overweight: 10%, obesity: 3%, dyslipidaemia: 41%. Elevated resting blood pressure was measured in 38%. Stress-ECG was positive due to ECG-changes in 16%, due to elevated exercise blood pressure in 8%. Echocardiography and/or CMR identified abnormalities in 19%. A significant number of premature ventricular contractions was found on the Holter-ECG in two cases. The CCT showed myocardial bridge or coronary plaques in one-one case. We recommended lifestyle changes in 58%, new/modified antihypertensive or lipid-lowering therapy in 5%, iron-supplementation in 22%. By our results, a high percentage of elite Hungarian handball referees had cardiovascular risk factors or diseases, which, combined with physical and psychological stress, could increase the possibility of cardiovascular events. Our study draws attention to the importance of cardiac screening in elite handball referees.

Influence of functional abilities on the quality of refereeing in handball

Background: Several factors contributed to the evolution of handball, and one of the most important changes for faster, more dynamic and aggressive game is the change of rules which increase physical demands of players and especially referees. The aim of this study is to determine whether functional abilities have an influence on the quality of refereeing. Material and methods: 31 subjects were involved in the research, all of them top-level referees with an average age of 34.66±6.44, height 184.02±5.87 cm and body mass 91.14±10.61 kg. Testing was divided into two parts: the first part was spiroergometric progressive test on a treadmill to diagnose functional abilities, and the second part was the official handball matches. Results: Results show an average relative maximum oxygen uptake of 45.35±6.12 ml/min/kg. No statistically significant correlation was found between better functional abilities of handball referees and a better quality of refereeing. Conclusions: Referees have a lower anaerobic capacity, which could lead to errors in their judgment during the highest physiological loads in a match. Referees are a homogeneous group due to elimination criteria on tests at official seminars. If there were no elimination criteria, there would be greater variability among referees, and it would be possible to confirm the hypothesis that better functional abilities would lead to a better quality of refereeing.

The Referee as an Educator: Assessment of the Quality of Referee-Players Interactions in Competitive Youth Handball.

Sport does not automatically generate educational benefits for players. For a sports field to become a child-friendly educational environment, it is essential that all actors involved in the organization of youth sport take deliberate educational measures. Among these actors are referees, who should be taken into account during the research on the educational value of sport for the youngest. The subject of the present study was handball referees, who interact with the players during matches. Assuming that the referee is an important actor in sport education and that referee–players interactions are the basic mechanism of the referee’s educational influence, this study aimed to assess the quality of his or her interactions with players during handball matches for children aged 9 to 12 years. The research was conducted in a group of 25 handball referees who refereed matches of children in the region of Mazowieckie Voivodeship in Poland. The referees surveyed had current licenses issued by the Warsaw–Mazovian Handball Association. To assess the quality of referee–players interactions, the authors’ direct observation tool (Referee–Players’ Interaction Assessment Scoring System) was used. The educational referee–players interaction was studied in six dimensions: Positive climate, Responsiveness, Behavior management, Proficiency, Instructing, and Communicating. Data were statistically analyzed using chi-squared test, Mann–Whitney U test and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Cronbach’s alpha values were higher than 0.90 in the factors, showing adequate levels of reliability. The results of the research demonstrated that the assessment of the quality of the referee’s educational influence on players was neither affected by the referees’ experience nor by the outcome of the match. The quality of educational referee–players interactions in five of the six dimensions studied was assessed as average, whereas positive climate was assessed as poor (three-step scale: poor, average, good). If referees are to support coaches and parents in achieving their educational goals, the results indicate areas where they can improve. The research provided empirical evidence that could be used as a basis for the modification of previous training programs for referees developed by local and national sports associations. The referees should be trained to build a positive climate on the sport field, which consists in creating emotional ties with players (physical proximity, social conversation), expressed in an enthusiastic attitude and joy of contacts (smiling, engagement, positive affect reaction, positive comments, respectful and inclusive language, using players first names, listening to players). In addition, referees must be taught to actively monitor players’ emotional, cognitive, social, and health needs, as well as to respond to the players’ needs and solve problems.

Profiling to Improve Control: Conflicts and Aggressive Behaviour Regulation by Elite Referees

Research question. This paper examines the activity of referees. More precisely, it studies the regulation of interactions, game circumstances and aggressive and punishable behaviours by elite handball referees in France. This article deals with the management of individuals on the pitch by the referee. It seeks to answer an important question in the field of the regulation of behaviors and management of individuals: what are the tools and strategies used by referees to regulate behaviour? Research methods. Through a field survey that relied on direct observations of the activity of referees, ethnographic interviews, and immersion, the paper offers a description of the refereeing activity without fragmenting it into different competencies. Results and findings. Taking into account the component of refereeing such as physical performance, perception, decision-making and communication, three profiles have been established and presented to the reader: the consensual referee, the rule-following referee and the perceptive referee. Implications. These profiles help us grasp the regulatory activity developed by the referees: the activity draws on multiple sources in response to the deviance phenomenon which had multiple causes and factors.

The effect of exercises using the Cogni Plus device on developing perception of handball referees

The effect of exercises using the Cogni Plus device on developing perception of handball referees