Striving for excellence: talent identification and development in English football refereeing

Abstract

Research question:The purpose of this study was to examine the talent identification and talent development experiences of referees in England. We explored with referees what they perceived to be the relevant strengths and weaknesses of the talent identification and development mechanisms utilised by football governing and development bodies in England.Currently, no research on the talent identification and development of football referees exists anywhere in the world. Research methods:The paper employs a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Semistructured interviews with 28 participants across four different County Football Associations (CFAs) in England were conducted. Referees on the development pathway and Referee Development Officers were interviewed.Results and Findings: Three overarching themes were identified; recruitment processes, talent identification and development, and support mechanisms. Opportunities for progression were affected by age, provision and quality of training, knowledge of the progression pathways, regional and national differences in both the recruitment and delivery of information regarding talent identification and development, and variability in the formalised support networks.Implications: Organisations who identify and develop referees at varying levels should understand the barriers associated with maximising referee progression. FIFA, UEFA, national football associations, and regional referee organisations are aware of the diminishing refereeing numbers across football, and therefore effective identification and development of 2 referees becomes even more essential. Governing bodies should recognise that the progression pathways in place have a significant impact on referee development and therefore a successful standardised approach is essential both nationally and internationally.

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“…The device requires six cameras, with a total value of £250,000. The disadvantage of this method is that it is statistically incorrect, and both Federer and Nadal have criticized this method in the past, but Federer himself believes that it can be used in football [8].…”

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“…While helpful to characterize development and related factors, further testing of these models is needed and clearer theoretical guidelines should address role‐ and sport‐specific attributes. Complicating matters is the fact that such conceptual interpretations of sport official development are varied, there is limited knowledge available about early developing sport officials' experiences, and research directed toward talent identification and development is lacking 42 . Furthermore, there is limited understanding about broader macro‐patterns of officials' development, as well as the impacts that skill transfer, 43 career advancement, 44 communities of practice, 45 and other organizational and environmental constraints 7,46 have on development.…”