Source of stress and coping style of basketball referees and development of preventive managerial applications

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The purpose of this study was to determine the source of stress and coping style of basketball referees and develop preventive managerial applications.
Quantitative and Qualitative methods were applied in this thesis. “Basketball Official Stress Survey” (BOSS) was used (Anshel ve Weinberg 1995) to determine coping style and source of stress of basketball referees. BOSS was administered to 106 A and B level licensed Turkish Basketball Federation referees in the season of 2006–2007. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical techniques (mean, standard deviation and frequency) and independent t-test.
Descriptive analysis revealed that “performance related” (2.34±0.52) factors was the highest mean score while the factor related to the “presence of others” was lowest mean score (2.23±0.56). With regard to the mean rating of each 14 sources of stress; “problem working with partner” (3.20±0.90) was the most important one and “Injury to another person” (1.54±0.74) was the least important source of stress for referees. T-test result for testing differences in source of stress with regard to year of officiating and status indicated statistically significant difference in the physical and verbal assault stress source with regard to status (p < .05) but no significant differences were obtained in terms of officiating year (p > .05).
“Positive cognitive approach” (3.20±0.90) was most frequently used style by basketball referees to cope with predetermined important source of stress. The mean frequency of using “positive cognitive approach” ranged from 3.55 ± 0.65 (Source of stress of verbal assault by coach) to 3.77 ± 0.67 (Source of stress of Controversial call). T-test analysis revealed no significant difference in coping style in term of status. On the other hand, 1-10 year experienced basketball referees statistically differed from 11 year and more experienced referees in using “behavioral coping method” to cope with “made a wrong and error call” and “threats of physical abuse from others” source of stress by 1-10 year and 11-and more year experienced referees.
To develop preventive managerial application interview technique and document analysis was used. As a qualitative methodology semi-structured interview was carried out with 6 participants who are eligible to interview. Content analysis of each participant responses indicated that motivation, lack of experience, personal sufficiency, level of personal improvement, fear of made a wrong call, psychological condition of referee, lack of self confidence, physical condition of referee, difficult games, pressure of spectators, working with partner, physical and verbal abuse or assault, injury, media factor, physical condition of sports hall, pressure of trainer, player and manager, lack of security and fist-aid precaution and game evaluation were the source of stress for Turkish Basketball Referees.
Based on the semi-structured interview and document analysis of six regulations of Turkish Basketball Federation, psychological support, regular rule knowledge educations and tests, regular physical tests, personal development seminars, appointment by experience, to create team spirit among referees, to give rule knowledge education to trainers, to take dissuasive managerial precautions, to take security and health precautions in sufficient level, to keep the standards physical conditions for sports hall, scientific and objective evaluation were found as preventive managerial precautions.