The Issues Faced by Female Basketball Referees in the Match Management Process

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 276 - 282, 25.07.2025

Mehmet Derelioğlu , Fatma Nur Çağlak , Seda Sabah

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1683286

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the problems faced by female basketball referees during the match management process. To achieve this purpose, qualitative research methods have been utilized in the study. The study follows the phenomenology design, which is one of the qualitative research designs. The population of the study consists of basketball referees actively working in Amasya province, and the sample group includes 6 female referees. A semi-structured interview form consisting of 9 questions was prepared by the researchers as a data collection tool. Data analysis was performed using the content analysis method in the Nvivo program. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the referees experience excitement, stress, and fear, cry due to their inexperience, and feel insecure; that men's matches are more competitive, exciting, and intense; and that the approach of coaches towards female referees is positive. Additionally, it was determined that the referees expressed opinions and suggestions, such as the need for more sensitivity towards them due to limitations on their movements on special days, the importance of updated rules being read by coaches and communicated to athletes, encouraging more women to enter this profession, breaking the gender divide between male and female referees in society, and providing more opportunities for women. Therefore, regular training should be provided to ensure that coaches are knowledgeable about the updated refereeing rules, these rules should be communicated to athletes, and encouraging measures should be taken to increase female representation in this profession.

Keywords

Basketball , Referee , Women referee , Sport.

References

• Açıkada, C., & Ergen, E. (1990). Science and sports (Report of the Commission on Education and Training in Sports, pp. 8–10). Büro Tek Offset Printing.
• Atabeyoğlu, C. (2005). Basketball. In Morpa Encyclopedia (Vol. 2). Doğan Offset
• Baldwin, C. F (2013). The ref must be blind Identifying preand postgame stresses of Australian sports referees and match officials. Sociology Study, 3(1), 13-22.
• Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Çakıcı, H. A., Taşpınar, H. A., & Derelioğlu, M. (2023). Investigation of the relationship between football players' positional competition levels and mental toughness. Journal of COMU Sport Sciences, 6(3), 118-135.
• Çankaya, S., Çakıcı, H.A., Yıldız, E., & Aksoy, Y. (2020). Analysis of athletes’ mental training practices and self-confidence levels. Turkish Studies -Social, 15(4), 1805-1821 [CrossRef]
• Drury, S., Stride, A., Fitzgerald, H., Hyett-Allen, N., Pylypiuk, L., & Whitford-Stark, J. (2022). “I'm a Referee, Not a Female Referee”: The Experiences of Women Involved in Football as Coaches and Referees. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 789321. [PubMed] [CrossRef]
• Engin, S. G., Yüce, A., & Katırcı, H. (2019). Pink cards in a male world: The view of women on refereeing in green fields. GSI Journals Serie A: Advancements in Tourism, Recreation and Sports Sciences (ATRSS), 2(1), 54–75. [CrossRef]
• Forbes, A., Edwards, L., & Fleming, S. (2014). ‘Women can’t referee’: exploring the experiences of female football officials within UK football culture. Soccer & Society, 16(4), 521-539. [CrossRef]
• Görün, L., Efek, E., Öntürk, Y., & Bingöl, E. (2020). Examination of continuous anxiety levels of football referees. Turkish Studies - Social, 15(5), 2529–2541. [CrossRef]
• Gündüz, S. (2019). Investigation of perceived stress levels and coping styles of students in physical education and sports teaching and classroom teaching departments. Master’s thesis, Afyon Kocatepe University, Institute of Health Sciences, Afyonkarahisar.
• Hardin, M., & Greer, J. D. (2009). The influence of gender-role socialization, media use and sports participation on perceptions of gender-appropriate sports. Journal of Sport Behavior, 32(2), 207.
• Kavasoğlu, İ., & Yaşar, M. (2016). Athletes beyond gender norms. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(3), 118–132 [CrossRef].
• Koca, C. (2018). 2nd Women and Sports Workshop Report: Representation of women in sports: Problems and solution proposals. Hacettepe University Faculty of Sports Sciences.
• Özkar, S. (2018). A gender perspective on the experiences of female football referees. Master’s thesis, Istanbul Gedik University.
• Passero, J. G., Barreira, J., Caldeirani Junior, A., & Galatti, L. R. (2019). Gender inequality: A longitudinal analysis of women’s participation in coaching and refereeing positions in the Brazilian Women’s Basketball League (2010–2017). Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 19(1), 252–261. [CrossRef]
• Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
• Popovych, I., Kurova, A., Koval, I., Kazibekova, V., Maksymov, M. & Huzar, V. (2022). Interdependence of emotionality, anxiety, aggressiveness and subjective control in handball referees before the beginning of a game: a comparative analysis. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 22(3), 680-689. [CrossRef]
• Sarıdede, Ç. (2018). Investigation of self-efficacy levels and decision-making skills of volleyball referees. Master’s thesis, Istanbul Gelisim University, Department of Coaching Education.
• Tapşın, F. O., & Doğan, N. E. K. (2024). Examination of struggle and threat situations in sports among football referees. Journal of Sport and Recreation for All, 6(3), 284–289.
• Taşmektepligil, M. Y., Aydın, İ., Ağaoğlu, S. A., & Öğretmen, N. (2004). A comparison of pre-match state anxiety levels of active referees in different branches and the effect of some variables on state anxiety. Gazi Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 4, 25–40.
• Ünlü, Ç., Çeviker, A., & Çamiçi, F. (2024). A content analysis of graduate theses related to the field of basketball. USEAB Journal, 10(1), 36–44. [CrossRef]
• Yazarer, İ., Taşmektepligil, M. Y., Ağaoğlu, Y. S., & Ağaoğlu, S. A. (2004). A physical evaluation of two-month development of groups participating in basketball activities at summer sports schools. Spormetre Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 2(4), 163–170. [CrossRef]
• Yetim, A. (2015). Sociology and sports. Berikan Publishing.
• Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2016). Qualitative research methods in the social sciences (10th ed.). Seçkin Publishing.
• Yılmaz, T. (2023). Examination of basketball referees' perceived stress levels and coping methods. Kilis 7 Aralık University Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 7(1), 192–200.
• Yüce, M., & Aytuna, F. (2020). History of Turkish basketball. Turkish Basketball Federation.