The role of the referee and his involvement in the promotion of fair play. Analysis and proposals of intervention in the context of University sport

Abstract

The figure of referees and their role in sports competitions have been the object of numerous studies, but few have analysed the role of referees from a more training based perspective. This article analyses the function of the referee in the area of university sports, based on the idea that the intervention of referees can help with the development of sportsmanship and fair play. The study examines the internal 7-a-side football league played by the Physical Activity Service (SAF) at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), and the research objectives are focused on analyzing the current reality of this group, detecting possible problems, and generating proposals for improvement aimed at seeking more educational refereeing. The instruments used are interviews, observation and document analysis. The results obtained reveal the need for referees to be trained pedagogically in the university environment; the establishment of ethical commitments that enable compliance with possible decalogues and codes of conduct; and the introduction of women to the refereeing collective.

Keywords

• Referee Role
• Fair Play
• University Sport
• Educational Sport
• Sportsmanship