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The professional performance and the role of referees insoccer

Ph.D. thesis

Csaba Bartha

Semmelweis UniversityEducational and Sport Sciences

Supervisor: Dr. Pál Hamar associate professor, Ph.D.

Official reviewers: Dr. László Nádori professor emeritus, doctor ofHungarian Academy of Sciences

Dr. Péter Hegyi associate professor, Ph.D.

President of the final examcommittee:

Dr. Zsolt Radák professor, doctor of HungarianAcademy of Sciences

Members of the final examcommittee:

Dr. János Csapó professor, doctor of HungarianAcademy of SciencesDr. Katalin Keresztesi associate professor, CSc.Dr. Gábor Gáldi associate professor, Ph.D.

Budapest2006.

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INTRODUCTION

The career of all referees starts with an enrollment to a referee course, and expectedly the

referees able to finish it. According to the Referees Committee and the directors of the course,

the students complained that (after a successful exam at the end of the course) they are still

not aware of the practical sense of this profession. On one hand it is normal that just after the

first couple conducted games realize the referee how should he act as a referee and handle

most of the situations, but on the other hand it is a shame that the course is not preparing them

for the actual profession.

I think the main reason is lies in the facts that the candidates are not conscious of the main

tasks and role of the referees that they should be prepared for. Candidates are also not aware

of the multiple social purposes of their profession, and not to mention the distinctiveness of

their social status. The directors of the courses fail to convey those norms what are essential

for this profession. Beside of the above mentioned, the way how to achieve the norms are not

entirely clear to the candidates.

The profession of being a referee requires certain types of personality and person. During the

educational training they not only need to acquire the curricula –rules of the game-, but also

the ability of public speeches and performances. Referees have to appear for TV weekly or be

on the air in front of the football supporters. Probably this is one of the things that the

candidates miss the most from the course. The course should prepare them for the actual

situations and help to adapt the norms connected to this profession. So, possessing to the

above mentioned knowledge could raise the social rank of the referees.

AIMS

It is a well known fact among the sport game-professionals that the quality of conducting

games plays very important rule in the development of a certain sport. This also applies to the

football. Modern football claims for modern conduct of the game. I think my statement can be

proved easily, if we think thorough, that footballers and coaches have no chance to modernize

the game if the standard of the referees not follow the modernization process. Modern

conduction is only can be achieved if the referees are well prepared.

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The hypothesis of my descriptive research can be summarized as the following: What

components are essential for being a well prepared referee?

My primary aim was to answer to this comprehensive question. I have also set up an aim for

producing a professional functional material to the football referees which is based on

scientific researches. I also have the intention to give assistance to the development not only

to professional referees in the highest levels of qualification, but also to the young beginners

working in the lowest category of the referees.

In the course of my research I examine the physical and theoretical knowledge, and also the

psychic state of the referees. Beside of these, I inspect the social differences between the

referees. I pay attention to the purposive conduction of a game, and also to the pedagogic

methods. To examine the distress and the conflict handling of the referees made my research

complete.

Hypothesis:

1. I assume that the FIFA level and the national level referees and the assistant referees

have better conditional abilities – endurance, agility –, than the county level referees.

2. I presume that the FIFA level and the national level referees and the assistant referees

have better knowledge of the rules of the game, than the county level referees.

3. I assume that the FIFA level and the national level referees and the assistant referees

have better physical abilities – concentration of the attention, handling conflicts,

stature distress –, than the county level referees.

4. I presume that the FIFA level and the national level referees and the assistant referees

have more motivations to do this profession, than the county level referees.

5. I assume that the higher level referees have wider range and more affective

pedagogical methods, than the county level referees.

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MATERIAL AND METHODS

Examined persons:

I examined the international referees of 17 countries, and the entire Hungarian referee

population (n=2500). The variegation of the tests and different methodology I used diverse

sampling methods.

European Football Associations – including the Hungarian Football Association – has various

levels of the football referee qualifications. The highest is the international – FIFA –, and the

lowest is the third-class county level qualification. The education and qualifications for the

referees and the assistant referees are different, but the permeability is possible in some

determined cases.

Methods of the examination

I used survey method for analyzing the social background of the football referees. The

questionnaire consisted of nine queries, which were either open or closed questions. I

executed the survey at the summer of 2004 at the professional training camp of the football

referees. The Hungarian and the English version of it both fulfilled the primary test criteria.

Measuring the conditional abilities and the fitness level of the referees I used the tests of the

International Football Association – “stop tests”–, which included a twelve-minute endurance

running test – Cooper-test –, a 200-meter and a 50-meter sprint tests. The assistant referees

did not have to perform the 200-meter running test according to the regulations of the

National Football Association. I used electric measuring system for the above mentioned tests

(Infragate Radiotelemetric Time Measuring system, Type: GUR-1). The examined candidates

started from a standing position in all cases. The dates of the examinations were: June 2002,

February-March, July of 2003. and February-March of 2004. The examination fulfilled the

primary criteria of a test, because after statistical calculations (ICC R), the correlations of the

values were between -1 and +1.

To measure the game-rule-knowledge – theoretical preparedness – of the referees I applied

survey method. I described real situations as I compiled the survey and I expected to get the

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right answers from them. My survey consisted of 25 questions; I gave 4 points for each right

answer, so it made to 100 points as the maximum. I have the survey filled with the Hungarian

and with the foreign referees at the summer of 2004 and 2005, respectively, at the

professional training camp. The international referees had to fill out the English version of the

test. The Hungarian and the English version of the test both fulfilled the primary test criteria.

The most general and widely applied test to survey the attention and the concentration is the

Toulouse and Pieron barrier-test. The referees had to consider four variation of a sign and

cancel from sign series. The tests were filled out by the referees at the professional training

camp on 2004 and in 2005. In all cases the examined peoples had four minutes in a staid and

calm circumstance to fill out the test. The pace and the correctness had equal weight in the

instructions.

I used quantitative survey method to measure the handling of a conflict. The survey name was

the Management Decision Making, In: Tutor Guide 1996. University of Humberside, and its

equal Hungarian version. I have filled out the test with the referees at the professional training

camp on 2004 and in 2005. It consists of twenty questions, and it measures the following

conflict-handling methods on a five-degree scale: contender, adaptive, preventive,

compromise seeker, cooperative personality. The test fulfilled the primary test criteria in all

aspects; all values of Cronbach alpha were above 0.79.

I used the standardized survey of Spielberger, and the Hungarian version of it – Sipos’s

standardized test – for measuring the distress constitution. I have only measured the distress

constitution, because I was curious of the referees’ distress aptitude, so how typical is the

distress of their characteristics. The tests were filled out by the referees at the professional

training camp on 2004 and in 2005, and Cronbach alpha values of the scale were above 0.81

in all cases.

Measuring the motivation anamnesis I used Nagykáldi’s “Sportmen motivation anamnesis”

survey from 1975, which fulfilled the primary test criteria in all aspects, too. The above

mentioned survey reveals the past, the present and the expected future motivation of a referee

in a certain sport. The tests were filled out by the referees at the professional training camp in

2004 and in 2005.

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We examined the verbal and non verbal communications of the referees with field-research in

the 2004/2005 football season. We inspected several football games, and registered the

communications of the football referees. At the verbal communications we paid attention to

the declarative, interrogative and imperative sentences. At the non verbal communication we

paid attention to the mimicry, countenance, the volume of the voice, hand gestures and

touches (physical contact). We not only examined the frequency of the verbal and the non

verbal communications, but also the effectiveness of them. The intensity of the

communication was categorized on previously determined five-step scale. The inspections

were carried out at such a way that four of us were at the side of the football field during the

games, and we also videotaped the TV telecasts. We jotted the observations down on the

worksheets we made beforehand.

Statistical analysis

I used basic statistical analysis at the sociological research, because I only used the results for

raw data. My aim did not include the demonstration of the differences between the various

level groups.

I have calculated the results of the conditional abilities and the attention tests using the mean

and dispersion. I compared the mean values of the different level groups of the referees with

parameter, one-way analyses of variance (one-way ANOVA). After calculating the significant

value of the F-test, I used post hoc test (Turkey HSD). The significance level was p<0.05. I

compared the game rule knowledge; the conflict handling and the results of the distress test

with a one parameter, one aspect analysis of variance. I used post hock test (Kruskall Wallis

ANOVA) to compare the differences between the groups. I compared and examined the

results of the motivation anamnesis and the verbal and the non verbal communication with a

Chi square test, because I was curious that the communication tools at the football matches

and the answers for the test were equally dispersed between the different level groups of

referees or not. The significance level was p<0.05. I always used Statistica for Windows 6.0,

Stat-Soft Inc. 2001 software for processing the data.

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RESULTS

Results of the conditional abilities of the football referees

The FIFA referees covered the longest distance (3046±127 meter) at the 12-minute run, and it

was followed by the group of the new generation with (2956±74 meter). The result of the

national first class referees (2939±136 meter) was not as good as the higher qualified classes,

but much better than the national third class (2833±141 meter). Among the groups of the

referees the shortest distance was covered by the third-class county level referees (2522±270

meter). There was no significant difference between the results of FIFA referees and the

national first class referees at 200-meter and the 50-meter sprint. However, I found significant

difference between the higher qualified and the first-, second- and third-class county level

referees (p<0.001). Both at the 200-meter run, and the 50-meter run, the FIFA, the national

first class and the group of the new generation referees achieved the best time results (200-m

sprint: 28.79±0.98 sec., 29.66±1.20 sec., 28.95±0.86 sec., 50-m sprint: 6.82±0.18 sec.,

6.84±0.29 sec. 6.91±0.15 sec.), while the third-class county referees achieved the weakest

results (200-m sprint: 32.80±2.92 sec., 50-m sprint: 7.64±0.46 sec.).

The women FIFA referees covered the longest among the women referees at the 12-minute

run (2534±158 meter). The referees with national and the county level qualifications got

significantly (p<0.05) lower results (2336±15 meter, 2273±264 meter). Also the results of the

FIFA referees were the best among the women at the 200-meter and at the 50-meter sprint

(200-m sprint: 33.85±0.88 sec., 50-m sprint: 7.54±0.26 sec.). At 200-meter sprint both the

national and the county level referees had significantly (p<0.05) lower outcomes (200-m

sprint: 35.38±1.88 sec., 35.55±2.25 sec.). At the 50-meter sprint both the lower qualified

referee groups achieved not as good results as the FIFA referees, but conversely between the

results of the county and the higher qualified groups showed significant difference (p<0.01),

(50-m sprint: 7.81±0.24 sec., 8.18±0.60 sec.).

Looking at the results of the 12-minute run, between the FIFA men assistant referees, the

national first-class, and the group of the new generation (2950±107 meter, 2900±96 meter,

2894±76 meter) there was no significant difference, but the efficiency level of the county

assistant referees was much lower (2628±326 meter), and showed significant difference with

all the other higher qualified groups (p<0.001). The higher qualified FIFA assistant referees

and the national first-class assistant referees also achieved the best results at the 50-meter

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sprint (6.78±0.21 sec., 6.61±0.35 sec.), but the result of the group of the new generation

assistant referees (6.84±0.09 sec.) showed no significant difference contrast with the above

mentioned groups. The country level group also significantly (p<0.05) underachieved

(7.30±0.97 sec.) at this conditional and agility test in contrast with the higher qualified

referees.

The knowledge of the football rules of the referees

The FIFA referees got the best results (98 points) at the test that measures the knowledge and

the preparedness of the football referees concerning the rules. This showed significant

difference (p<0.01) in contrast to all the other level groups of the referees except the national

first class referees (95 points). The weakest knowledge of the football rules had the first-,

second- and third-class county referees (71 points, 66 points, 63 points), which significantly

differs (p<0.001) from all the other level groups of the men referees. The results of the new

generation (88 points) showed no significant difference with the national first-class referees,

but it showed significant difference (p<0.001) with the same quality national third-class

referees (75 points).

Both the FIFA and the national first-class women referees were exceptional (91 points) at the

test. The theoretical knowledge of the county level referees were the lowest (63 points), it is

significantly lower (p<0.001) than the other two higher qualified group of referees.

The FIFA men assistant referees got the best results (96 points), but the result of the national

first-class assistant referees achieved also remarkable results (95 points). Both the group of

the new generation assistant referees (85 points) and the county level assistant referees (68

points) had significantly (p<0.001) lower points than the higher qualified assistant referees.

Results of the attention examination of the football referees

Among the men referees, the FIFA group has got the best result (302.1±3.32). They followed

by the national first-class referees (280.8±3.52). The result of the new generation group of

referees (264.9±3.80) was better than the analogous national third-class referees (239.7±4.37),

but it lags behind the results of their higher qualified colleagues. The results of the county

class referees (county I-class 219.8±3.35), (county II-class 199.0±9.87), (county III-class

183.8±10.14) were notably lower than the results of the higher qualified referees, and the

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results were also far behind the previously tested referees which are well known from the

records. There were significant differences between all groups (p<0.001).

Among the women, the FIFA group has got the best result at the attention test (259.8±5.82).

The results of the women national first-class group was a slightly weaker (229.8±4.98), and

the result of the county level referees (198.0±7.32) lag behind from both of the other higher

qualified groups. The difference was significant between all cases (p<0.001) in favour of the

higher qualified groups.

The FIFA group achieved the best result among the assistant referees at the attention test

(308.2±3.00). The result of the national first-class assistant referees (294.9±6.11) was not as

good as the result of the internationals. The result of the group of the new generation assistant

referees (266.2±6.68) was behind at this cognitive ability. The result of the county level

assistant referees (209.3±5.63) was far behind all the other groups. There were significant

difference (p<0.001) between all groups.

The ability of the football referees in handling conflicts

It can be seen from the nonparametric statistical calculation that the FIFA level qualified

group of the referees has the less contender personality. Their result significantly differs

(p<0.001) from every other groups. The most contender group is the third-class county level

referees. The calculations showed significant difference (p<0.001) between all the other

higher qualified groups.

The adaptive strategy is the opposite of the contender, so it is no wonder that it characterize

the higher qualified groups. The FIFA group is the most adaptive group of referees in a

conflicting situation, and less adaptive are the county level groups. The result of the county

level group is significantly differs (p<0.05) from the FIFA group, the national first-class and

the group of the new generation referees.

The preventive attribution is not the characteristic of the FIFA referees, and there is a

significant difference (p<0.001) between them and all the other lower qualified groups. The

county level referees are the most preventive in situations. There is a significant difference

(p<0.05) not only between them and the international and the first-class group, but also the

group of the new generation.

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The characteristic of compromise seeking is much typical of the international referees and the

“top class” referees of Hungary. This conflict handling strategy of the FIFA referees showed

significant difference (p<0.05) between all the other groups and also with the national first-

class referees. The county level referees are not really compromise seeker, and their results

(p<0.01) showed significant difference with the higher qualified referee group.

The men FIFA referees are the most cooperative in a conflicting situation. Their results

showed the greatest significant difference (p<0.001) with other men group of referees. It is

clear that the country level qualified referees are the less cooperative with the other person in

a certain conflicting situation.

Looking at the result of the conflict solving strategy of the women, the only difference I found

is at the contender characteristic. The less contender type are the national first-class referees

and most contenders are the county level referees. There was a significant difference between

them (p<0.01).

Among the men assistant referees the fewer contenders are in the group of FIFA and the most

contenders are the ones who have county level qualification. Both groups (the FIFA and the

county level) showed significant difference with all the other groups – evidently with the

adequate prefix sign– (p<0.001).

According to the statistical research the characteristic of adaptiveness and compromise

seeking is typical of the international and the Hungarian national first-class assistant referees.

There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between their results with the group of the new

generation assistant referees and also with the county level referees.

The preventiveness less applies to the FIFA assistant referees among the examined groups. To

handle a conflict with being preventive is typical of the county level assistant referees. There

was a significant difference (p<0.05) between all groups.

The cooperative conflict handling method is mainly to the FIFA assistant referees and the

least to the county level assistant referees. There was significant difference (p<0.05) between

all the four groups I examined.

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Results of the distress examination of the football referees

The FIFA referees have the lowest distress index (26.9±1.5) among the men referee groups.

The county level football referees have the highest distress index (42.0±7.2). The result of the

county level football referees showed significant difference (p<0.01) with the other higher

qualified football referee groups. The distress level of the group of the new generation

(36.0±3.4) is higher than the distress level of the national first-class group (33.4±6.8), but

lower than the distress level of the similar qualified national third-class referees (37.3±5.5).

Only the results of the national first-class and the third-class showed significant difference

(p<0.001).

The FIFA referees had the lowest distress level among the women referees (34.5±0.9). The

distress level of the national first-class women referees (36.5±4.6) was slightly higher than the

distress level of the above mentioned group. The distress index of the county level referees

(40.5±5.8) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than both the other two higher qualified groups.

The FIFA assistant referees have got the lowest index (26.3±2.2) at the distress test and the

county level assistant referees got the highest (40.0±5.1). Both groups showed significant

difference (p<0.001) with the other two groups – evidently with the adequate prefix sign –.

The distress levels of the national first-class assistant referees (34.2±7.2) and the new

generation group (35.7±3.1) are almost equal.

Results of the motivation anamnesis examination of the football

The main genuine motivation of being a football referee is the personal determination, or the

reassurance of someone else leads us to make the decision to be a football referee. I found

statistically proven significant difference (p<0.05) between the results of men new generation

group of referees and the men national first-class and the international football referees

concerning the motivation. There was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the men FIFA

group and the country level group, but with the inverse difference at the men third-class

country level group. The motivation of the women national first-class referee group showed

significant difference (p<0.05) with all the other women groups, examining the genuine

motivation of being a referee. There was also a significant difference (p<0.05) between the

FIFA and the national first-class men assistant referees.

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The dispersion of the age of the men football referees conducting a real football game for the

first time is quite heterogenic. The result of the answers for this question showed significantly

difference between all referee groups (p<0.05). It is similar to the women football referees,

because between the age of conducting the first football game was significant difference

between the groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the men FIFA

assistant referee and the men new generation assistant referee groups. Comparing the other

assistant referee groups I found significant difference (p<0.05) between them.

There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the different level groups of the men

football referees concerning the first not officially conducted football game. The higher

qualified referees started their football referee career significantly (p<0.01) earlier than the

country level football referees. The age of the women referees for conducting a football game

for the first time (not officially) is very low. There was significant difference (p<0.05)

between all women football referee groups. There is statistical difference (p<0.05) between all

the men assistant referee groups concerning the date of their first conducted not official

football game.

All groups of the men referees reported outstandingly good experiences during the conduction

of the football games. The referees in higher qualified groups had significantly (p<0.05) better

experiences and positive memories than the county level referee groups. The positive

experiences not keeping off from the women football referees either. Similarly to the men’s

group they there are significantly lot women referees who had good memories and

experiences of the football games. The assistant football referees also had quite good

memories during the games. The proportion of the occurrence of positive experiences were

significantly higher (p<0.01) at the FIFA and the national first-class referees than at the new

generation and at the county level groups.

The men referees have also quite a bit of displeasing experiences during their career. The

FIFA qualified football referees and the group the new generation had high frequent negative

experiences during the games, which significantly differed (p<0.05) from all the other group

of the referees. Remarkably interesting, that the woman FIFA referees had significantly more

(p<0.01) bad experiences than the national women first-class referees and the women county

level referees. Looking at the football assistant referees, we can state that the higher qualified

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assistant referees reported of much more disappointing memories during the games than their

lower qualified colleagues.

The present motivation of all groups of men referees – except for the group of the new

generation – lies in the affection of the football sport. This aspect of the motivation

significantly higher marked than all the other alternatives. The group of the new generation

has high fondness towards the football too, but the majority of them ticked the “going up to

the higher level of qualification”. The motivation of the women referees showed significant

difference (p<0.05) between all three groups. There was significant difference between the

men FIFA assistant referees and the group of the new generation men in contrast with the

national first-class and the county level assistant referees at the result of the motivation

examination.

The majority of the men referees prefer complex and exciting football games. While the 94%

of the international and the 96 percent of the Hungarian first-class referees favour the difficult

and spectator attracting and high staked games, only the 80 percent of the county level

referees like similar situations. The difference of these proportions showed significant

deviation (p<0.01). The women FIFA and the women national first-class referees showed

high willingness to conduct an important game in front of a lot of spectators. There was a

significant difference (p<0.01) of the affinity of conducting a difficult and a high number

viewer games between the higher qualified assistant referees and the county level qualified

assistant referees.

There was significant difference (p<0.05) between all group of men referees and men

assistant referees concerning their future career. There was also a great difference (p<0.05)

between the groups of the women referees concerning the motivation for the future.

The qualified FIFA men referees and assistant referees hope the most financial allowances

from their sport referee career. There is a significant difference (p<0.05) between the

motivation index of the men group who can conduct of an international football game and all

the other level men referees. The motivation of the county level women referees is

significantly higher (p<0.01) than the two higher qualified groups of women referees.

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The result of the verbal and non verbal communications of a football referee

The FIFA referees were the one who used declarative sentences the most, and they were also

the most effective. It showed significant difference (p<0.05) between the other groups of

referees. County level referees used declarative sentences significantly less time (p<0.01) than

the other groups of referees, and their effectiveness was not satisfactory either.

Both the FIFA and the national first-class referees used interrogative sentences with the same

frequency. This statement is also applied to the group of the new generation and the county

level referees. Although the prevalence of the interrogative sentences were almost the same,

the effectiveness of them showed significant difference (p<0.05) between all groups of

referees.

In my opinion the imperative sentence is the most important among the verbal communication

methods. My assumption has been proven by my examinations, because the imperative

communication mode was used at the most cases. The FIFA referees took the most advantage

of the imperative sentences, and they were also the most effective. Their accomplishment

were significantly different (p<0.05) from all the other groups of referees. The result of the

county level referees was significantly lower (p<0.01) than all the other groups.

The higher qualified groups of the referees used mimicry significantly (p<0.05) more times

and they were much more effective than the metacommunication skills of the lower qualified

members of the referees.

At the examination of the countenance –as a non verbal communication channel – we were

paying attention to the intensity, and the effectiveness. The effectiveness of the countenance

of the FIFA and the Hungarian front-rank qualified referees were significantly better (p<0.05)

than the effectiveness of the lower qualified colleagues of them.

There is a tight connection between the volume and tone of the voice, and the disclosure of

the communication modes. The volume and the tone of the voice of the FIFA and the national

first-class referees were significantly (p<0.01) more effective than the yield of the lower

qualified groups of referees. There is a significant difference between the group of the new

generation and the county level referees in favour of the previously mentioned.

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The movements or gestures of the hands help to modulate the verbal communication. The

FIFA referees used this communication in most cases, and they also were the most effective.

The results showed significant difference (p<0.01) in contrast with the lower qualified

referees. There was no significant difference between frequency of using hand gestures of the

national referees, the new generation and the county level referee groups. Concerning the

effectiveness of the above mentioned, there was significant difference (p<0.05) between all

groups in favour of the higher qualified referees.

Examinating the frequency of touch (physical contact) of the FIFA group, the national team

and the group of the new generation referees there was no significant difference between

them, but there was significant difference (p<0.01) between all groups and the county level

referee group. Concerning the efficiency the FIFA and the national first class football referees

were significantly (p<0.05) more effective than the county level referees.

All five previously set up hypothesis verificated.

CONCLUSIONS

The leading concept of my examinations was the multipleness. That is why I was completing

my search from the following aspects: conditional, game-rule knowledge, attention, ability of

the concentration, handling conflicts, psychical (distress, motivation) and communication.

The results of my research supported the results of the international researchers that the

referees primarily need aerobe endurance, and the assistant referees principally need anaerobe

stamina. I found significant difference between the higher qualified referees and assistant

referees, and the lower qualified groups concerning the field tests such as Cooper test, 200-

meter running test and the 50-meter sprint test for the benefit of the higher qualified. There

was a significant difference between all groups at the 12-minute running test, whilst the

county level football referees were statistically milder at the sprint tests. We can draw the

inference from it, that in the point of conditional abilities the groups of the new generation

referees form an imaginary boundary between the groups of the football referees. The

capability of disjunctiveness of the “stop test” has been proven by the results of my

examinations.

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The basic and mostly expected characteristic of a football referee is the professional

knowledge of the football rules. Not only the knowledge of the rules is important, but also the

right application of them vital for the referees. At the football rule knowledge tests I took

cognizance of that the FIFA referees and assistant referees, the national first class referees and

the assistants had significant advantages. The result of the new generation group was divide

line again, because there are significant difference with all the higher and the lower qualified

referee groups.

There is a distinguished role of the attention and the concentration at the football field. There

was a significant difference between several groups of referees and assistant referees in favour

of the higher qualified, concerning the attention tests. There is also a significant difference

between the corresponding men and women groups for the benefit of the men with the

exception of the county level groups. The cognitive ability of the group of the new generation

at this area is quite satisfactory, but to achieve a higher qualified level they need to improve at

this area, too.

The verdicts of the referee at the football games often lead to conflicts, because the decision is

always negative to one of the team. I have various tests done with the referees and assistant

referees. According to the tests it can be stated that the higher qualified groups have more

adequate problem solving tools for the controversial situations than the county level referees.

The contender and preventive conflict solving modes characterize the lower qualified groups,

and the adaptive, compromise seeker and cooperative strategy apply to the higher qualified

referees and assistant referees. The pedagogical and psychological abilities of the women

referees significantly differ from the requirements of the referees.

The referee, whose level of distress is high, less suitable for conducting a football game. The

distress level of the FIFA, the national first team referees and the assistants is significantly

lower than the distress level of the county level referees. The examinations proved that the

professional selection of the new generation group is appropriate, because the psychical

indicator of them is not significantly differs from the elite groups of referees.

One of the major premises of the pedagogy science is that the fulfillment of an action is

possible if and only if the dynamism of the system is ensured. Thus the effective conducting

of a football game occurs only if the referee possesses with interior tension. The results of the

17

motivation tests have proved that the FIFA and the national first class football referees have

higher motivation qualities connected to their conduction of a game than the county level

referees. Beside of this the achievement of the tests verified that the higher qualified men and

women referees and assistant referees begin to conduct a football game at a significantly

earlier age than their lower qualified colleagues.

The verbal and the non verbal communication are both quite important tool at conducting a

football game. Communications used at a proper time with a proper effectiveness could

highly contribute to the fair play spirit of a game. The FIFA and the national first class

referees were more effective using verbal and non verbal communication than the group of

the new generation and the county level referees. So, we can jump to a conclusion that the

conscious and effective communication is vital for the professional improvement of the new

generation.

In short conclusion it can be stated that the present modern football requires referees who are

conditionally – both ability of endurance and agility – well prepared, possesses the knowledge

of the football game rules, has good concentration skills, low distress level, and good

communication skills with other people. The above mentioned requirements do not fit to most

of the referees, unfortunately. Those who suits to these requirements will be the most

excellent ones.

They could become like Sándor Puhl or P. L. Collina. They could also become the bases of

the Hungarian football referees in the future.

18

REFERENCES

1. Bartha, Cs. (2003): A fejelés technikájának hatékonyságvizsgálata a labdarúgásban.

Módszertani Lapok, Testnevelés. 10(3): 27-31. p.

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iskolai labdarúgás tanításáról, tanulásáról. Tanulmánykötet I. IV. Országos

Sporttudományi Kongresszus. 250-254. p.

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távolságbecslésük alapján. Tanulmánykötet II. IV. Országos Sporttudományi

Kongresszus. 244-248. p.

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mai modern labdarúgásban. Futball Tréner. 1: 6-8. p.

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6. Bartha, Cs. Rigler, E. Berkes, P. (2004): Rúgáspontosság és távolságbecslés

vizsgálata labdarúgóknál. Magyar Edző. 1: 18-21. p.

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női hallgatók szemszögéből. Iskolai testnevelés és sport. 23: 16-19. p.

8. Bartha, Cs. Rigler, E. Berkes, P. (2004): Investigation on shooting accuracy and

distance guessing with soccer players. Hungarian Review of Sport Science. 4: 16-18.

p.

9. Berkes, P. Bartha, Cs. (2004): A kultúra és testkultúra értelmezési dimenzióinak

tudományági perspektívái. Új Pedagógiai Szemle. 10: 51-58. p.

10. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2005): Labdarúgó játékvezetők kondicionális

képességeinek összehasonlító vizsgálata. Kalokagathia. 4: 79-86. p.

11. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2005): Magyar labdarúgó játékvezetők elméleti

felkészültségének vizsgálata. Sporttudományi Szemle. 1: 12-14. p.

12. Bartha, Cs. Tóth, J. (2005): A labdarúgó edzőszemélyisége. Futball Tréner. 1: 18-

21. p.

13. Bartha, Cs. Tóth, J. (2005): Labdarúgó játékvezetők speciális bemelegítése. Futball

Tréner. 2: 8-12. p.

14. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2005): Comparison of European soccer referres’

conditional abilities. The 10th Annual Congress of the EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF

SPORT SCIENCE. CD.

19

15. Hamar, P. Leibinger, É. Bartha, Cs. Soós, I. (2005): Investigation on content of

Hungarian school physical education in european comparison. The 10th Annual

Congress of the EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE. CD.

16. Bartha, Cs. Petridis, L. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. Castagna, C. (2006): Fitness test results of

Hungarian and international level soccer referees and assistants. Journal of Strength

and Conditioning Research. (in press) IF: 1.0.

17. Bartha, Cs. (2006) : Európai labdarúgó játékvezetők konfliktuskezelőképességének

vizsgálata. Tanulmánykötet. I. Országos Labdarúgó Konferencia. (in press)

18. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2006): Labdarúgó játékvezetők figyelemvizsgálata

Pieron teszttel. Tanulmánykötet. V. Országos Sporttudományi Kongresszus. (in press)

19. Bartha, Cs. Majoross, K. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2006): Labdarúgó játékvezetők és

játékvezetőasszisztensek konfliktuskezelőképességeinek összehasonlító vizsgálata.

Alkalmazott Pszichológia. 1: 90-100. p.

20. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2006): Magyar élvonalbeli labdarúgó játékvezetők

szakmai teljesítményének vizsgálata. Magyar Edző. 1: 16-19. p.

21. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2006): Labdarúgó játékvezetők és játékvezető

asszisztensek alkati szorongásának vizsgálata. Sporttudományi Szemle. (in press)

22. Bartha, Cs. Hamar, P. Puhl, S. Szomoru, E. (2006): Labdarúgó játékvezetők és

játékvezetőasszisztensek figyelemvizsgálata Pieron teszttel. Olimpia. (in press)

23. Bartha, Cs. Petridis, L. Puhl, S. Hamar, P. (2006): Fitness test performance in female

soccer referees of different competitive levels: a field study. Journal of Coimbra

Network on Excercise Sciences. (in press)

20

CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS

1. Bartha, Cs.: A fejelés technikájának hatékonyság vizsgálata az iskolai testnevelésben.

Házi Tudományos Diákköri Konferencia, Semmelweis Egyetem Testnevelési és

Sporttudományi Kar (TF). 2002. november 21. Budapest. Absztrakt kötet. 21. p.

2. Bartha, Cs.: A fejelés technikájának hatékonyság vizsgálata az iskolai testnevelésben.

XXVI. Országos Tudományos Diákköri Konferencia, Testnevelés és Sporttudományi

Ph.D. szekció. 2003. április 10-12. Győr. Absztrakt kötet. 89. p.

3. Bartha, Cs. Rigler, E.: Távolságbecslés és találati pontosság vizsgálata

labdarúgásban. III. Országos Neveléstudományi Konferencia. 2003. október 9-11.

Budapest. Absztrakt kötet. 389. p. (poszter)

4. Bartha, Cs. Hamar, P.: Testnevelés szakos végzős női hallgatók véleménye az iskolai

labdarúgás tanításáról, tanulásáról. III. Országos Neveléstudományi Konferencia.

2003. október 9-11. Budapest. Absztrakt kötet. 405. p. (poszter)

5. Bartha, Cs. Rigler, E.: Labdarúgók rúgáspontossága és rúgásbiztonsága

távolságbecslésük alapján. IV. Országos Sporttudományi Kongresszus. 2003. október

17-18. Szombathely. Absztrakt. Sporttudományi Szemle 2003. 3. szám. 34. p.

(poszter)

6. Bartha, Cs. Hamar, P.: Testnevelés szakos végzős női hallgatók véleménye az iskolai

labdarúgás tanításáról, tanulásáról. IV. Országos Sporttudományi Kongresszus. 2003.

október 17-18. Szombathely. Absztrakt. Sporttudományi Szemle 2003. 3. szám. 12. p.

(poszter)

7. Rigler, E. Bartha, Cs.: Rúgáspontosság és távolságbecslés vizsgálata labdarúgóknál.

34. Mozgásbiológiai Konferencia. 2003. november 20-21. Budapest. Absztrakt kötet.

18. p.

8. Bartha, Cs. Hamar, Pál.: Néhány gondolat az iskolai labdarúgás tanításának,

tanulásának problematikájáról. 34. Mozgásbiológiai Konferencia. 2003. november 20-

21. Budapest. Absztrakt kötet. 19. p.

9. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, Pál.: Labdarúgó játékvezetők kondicionális

képességeinek összehasonlító vizsgálata. IV. Országos Neveléstudományi

Konferencia. 2004. október 20-22. Budapest. Absztrakt kötet. 359. p. (poszter)

10. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, Pál.: Labdarúgó játékvezetők elméleti felkészültségének

vizsgálata. 35. Mozgásbiológiai Konferencia. 2004. december 2-3. Budapest.

Absztrakt kötet. 18. p.

21

11. Bartha, Cs. Majoross, K.: Labdarúgó játékvezetők konfliktuskezelőképességének

összehasonlító vizsgálata. XVII. Országos Tudományos Diákköri Konferencia. Ph.D.

szekció. 2005. március 23-24. Nyíregyháza. Absztrakt kötet. 84. p.

12. Bartha, Cs.: Labdarúgó játékvezetőasszisztensek konfliktuskezelő képességének

összehasonlító vizsgálata. Ph.D. Tudományos Napok. 2005. április 14-15. Absztrakt

kötet. 38. p. (Szekciódíjas előadás).

13. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P.: Comparison of European soccer referees’ conditional

abilities. The 10. Annual Congress of the EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT

SCIENCE. 13-16 July 2005. Belgrade. Serbia. Abstrakt book. 268. p.

14. Hamar, P. Leibinger, É. Bartha, Cs. Soós, I.: Investigation on content of hungarian

school physical education in european comparison. The 10. Annual Congress of the

EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE. 13-16 July 2005. Belgrade. Serbia.

Abstrakt book. 223. p.

15. Bartha, Cs .: Európai labdarúgó játékvezetők konfliktuskezelésének és

kommunikációjának vizsgálata. Pécsi Tudományegyetem TTK. Testnevelési- és

Sporttudományi Intézet. I. Országos Labdarúgó Konferencia. 2005. szeptember 23.

Pécs. Absztrakt kötet. 3.p.

16. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P.: Labdarúgó játékvezetők figyelemvizsgálata Pieron

teszttel. V. Országos Sporttudományi Kongresszus. 2005. október 27-28. Budapest.

Absztrakt kötet. 12. p.

17. Hamar, P. Leibinger, É. Bartha, Cs. Ozsváth, K.: Testnevelői vélemények a

tantervelmélet időszerűkérdéseiről. V. Országos Sporttudományi Kongresszus. 2005.

október 27-28. Budapest. Absztrakt kötet. 23.p.

18. Bartha, Cs.: Labdarúgó játékvezetők és játékvezető asszisztensek alkati

szorongásának vizsgálata. Ph.D. Tudományos napok. 2006. április 13-14. Budapest.

Absztrakt kötet. 48. p. (Szekciódíjas előadás).

19. Bartha, Cs. Puhl, S. Hamar, P.: labdarúgó játékvezetők verbális és nem verbális

kommunikációjának vizsgálata. Mozgásbiológiai Konferencia. 2006. április 27-28.

Absztrakt kötet. 33. p.

Egyéb szakspecifikus előadások:1. Bartha, Cs.: Magyar labdarúgó játékvezetők kondicionális képességeinek és elméleti

felkészültségének összehasonlító vizsgálata. Budapesti Labdarúgó Szövetség

játékvezetői nap. 2005. január 30. Budapest.

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2. Bartha, Cs.: Európai labdarúgó játékvezetők szakmai teljesítményének vizsgálata.

Budapesti Labdarúgó Szövetség edzőtábora. 2005. július 23. Jászberény.