Perceptual Expertise of Soccer Referees Playing At Various Divisions Of The Greek Soccer League
Aristotle University, Department
of Phys. Education and Sports Sciences, Motor Control and Learning Laboratory,
Thessaloniki, Greece
Introduction
Field performance of soccer referees has been traditionally related to fitness characteristics such as endurance, anaerobic capacity 1,2 or the referee’s activity profile during the match as this is reflected in the total distance, percent of high velocity or backward running covered 3. On the other hand, the ability to properly respond to rapidly changing environmental events assumes a certain level of perceptual and cognitive skill related to the speed of information processing and decision-making. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether expertise in soccer refereeing is influenced by selected perceptual-motor abilities tested in a laboratory setting.
Methods
Fourteen (14) referees playing
at various divisions of the Greek soccer league (mean age: 27.8 ±5.2,
years of experience: 8.07±3.2)
and 14 age-matched controls (mean age: 25.5±4.1) having no previous
experience in sports were assessed in a series of perceptual-motor tests (VIENNA TEST SYSTEM, [4]) examining simple (SRT) and
discrimination reaction time (DRT), sustained and selective attention (SUPERLAB
PRO). The SRT test required subjects to press a bar key
as soon as a change in the visual stimulus displayed on a computer screen ahead
of them was detected. For the DRT test, subjects were required to respond only
to one specific combination of visual stimuli. For the sustained attention
test, a row of 7 triangles, pointing upward or downward was presented in the
screen in irregular jumps. Subjects had to press the bar button as soon as they
realized that three of the triangles were pointing downwards. The selective attention test required
subjects to respond to relevant or irrelevant cues of a soccer match displayed
momentarily on a computer screen. Differences between the groups in the mean
and standard deviation (SD) of reaction time calculated over the series of
critical stimuli and number of correct responses in the attention tests were
analyzed using t-test comparisons for independent samples.
Results
No
significant between groups differences were noted in either simple or
discrimination mean reaction times. However, soccer referees were more
consistent in their responses in the DRT test as this was confirmed by the
significantly lower SD values of DRT [p<0.05] when compared to the control
group. The sustained attention test failed to reveal any significant
differences in the performance of the two groups. On the other hand, soccer
referees had a significantly greater number of correct responses [p>0.05]
and a shorter reaction time [p<0.05] than the control group when responding
to the relevant cues of the selective attention test. Responses to irrelevant
cues were similar for both groups.
Discussion
Examination
of selected perceptual-motor skills tested in a laboratory setting revealed
that soccer referees were superior and faster than untrained individuals in
their ability to pick-up relevant information of soccer related events when
these were displayed on a computer screen. On the other hand, they were no
better than controls in their speed of motor response when this was tested
under simple or discrimination visual stimuli conditions or in sustained
attention. It is concluded that the use
of more realistic field-based test protocols [5] implemented under conditions
of stress and fatigue may be more appropriate to unravel the specific and
complex perceptual-motor abilities required in soccer refereeing during match
performance.
References
[1] Krustrup
P, Bangsbo J., 2001. J Sports Sci, 19(11):881-91
[2] S. D’
Ottavio, C. Castagna, 2001. J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 41:27-32
[3] Johnston
L, Mc Naughton L., 1994. Aust J Sci Med Sport, 26(3-4): 67-72
[4] Schuhfried, 1996. Manuals of the Vienna Test Instrument Systems,
Modling, Austria
[5] Williams, 2000. J Sports Sci, 18:737-750
This study was presented at the 2004 PreOlympic Congress held in Thessaloniki, Greece as o Poster Presentation
See more details about the author HERE
This study was presented at the 2004 PreOlympic Congress held in Thessaloniki, Greece as o Poster Presentation
See more details about the author HERE
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