The Impact of a Psychological Guidance Program on Reducing Role Conflict Among First-Degree Referees Participating in The Iraqi Stars League in Football
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37359/JOPE.V38(1)2026.2418Keywords:
Counseling program, Role conflict, First-class referees, Football, Iraqi Stars League, Sports psychological counselingAbstract
The first-class referees officiating the Iraqi Stars League are confronted with a variety of functions they execute during one refereeing season. Referee perform different tasks apart from opposing robots such as Main Referee, Assistant Referee, Fourth Official and Social and Professional Activities. Role conflict in this case may arise from the divergent and highly abstract expectations fostered by different role set members. With the incredible technical and competitive progress experienced by Iraqi Stars League and an increase in the amount of first-class referees’ pressure, there arises a pressing necessity to create scientifically based counseling programs that reduces role conflict among referees and develops their cognitive-behavioral capacities. This, in its turn, can be good for refereeing and decision-making on the field. Role conflict is considered one the psychological problems that can lead to increased anxiety, distraction and difficulty in making decisions, which have a harmful effect on referring level of performance. This research aims at indicating the effect of a counseling program as a mean of decreasing role conflict for first class referee in concrete situations in Iraq Star League (football). The study reached to the conclusion that counselling programmed had a positive and significant impact in lowering down the role conflict level of referees. The programmer also enhanced their psychological and professional adaption on duty performance in refereeing. Therefore, it is suggested to incorporate counseling program in the preparatory and development programs implemented by the Iraqi Football Association.
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