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