Developing a career promotion model for Romanian football referees

Abstract

Football refereeing has become more demanding in terms of physical and mental preparation. Elite football referees are seen as athletes nowadays and the latest changes have brought major challenges in terms of job and occupation. The officials have changed their perspectives regarding their sport involvement due to the national football associations which have decided to have a certain number of professional referees. Therefore, top level football referees have taken the path towards professionalization.

The aim of the study was to develop a career model for the football referees. The model was created through the career development theories and studies. Super’s career development theory (1953) was the starting point of the created model. The ideal model was tested on the Romanian elite football referees.

The present study is using a qualitative research approach with participant observation and guided in-depth interviews. The qualitative methods were chosen in order to get a deeper perspective about the referees’ career development process. All interviews were recorded and made face-to-face. Romanian top league referees (N= 5) were interviewed during the Romanian Elite Referees’ Conference in Antalya (Turkey) in February 2009. The referees’ identity is protected, as no names appear in the study. This is done to avoid problems which could result if their identity is revealed.

The proposed career model has five stages and represents the professionalization path from a free-time activity to a full-time job. Each stage represents a certain period in the referee’s life, and the demanded skills for each level will be discussed in this part of the study. Exploration represents the Referee Course and Grassroots football. Implementation is the second period and is the Fourth League (the highest district league). Consolidation is the Third League, the lowest national league. The Second League is represented by the stabilization period. Maintenance is most important period in a referee’s career because they are refereeing at the highest national level and have the opportunity to be selected as an international referee.

Practical suggestions were given in order to develop the quality of refereeing in Romania. This study provides support for Romanian refereeing through proposing guidelines for a Code of Ethics in order to create credible observers and referees systems. A new promotion system having mentoring as a key point for each career level is developed. More advice for each career stages is given in this part. This chapter’s aim is to increase credibility and transparency about refereeing activity in Romania.