Psychology is elbowing its way into football

10. 12. 2009 00:07:37

  Psychology as a science became a part of professional sport.  It is very important to accept the trends that are comming from the world sport environment and concentrate on their expansion at home. Football referee is not any exception therefore we adressed several question to Mr. Tomáš Gurský, Sport Psychologist.
 

Mr. Gursky, you are author of the subject publication called „ Psychological Aspects in a Fotball Referee Work“. As we know you prepared this issue in cooperation with Mr. Dušan Krchňák, Head of Slovak Referee Committee. Can you tell us something about this book and about the cooparation with a slovak football referees as well? When did you start to interest in football refereeing?

I was talking to international observers Mr. Krchňák and Mr. Marko about a long-time team work in special referee programme called „ Talent – Mentor“ that is supported by UEFA. According to this agreement I prepared subject publication focused on psychological aspects that affect football referees. Except my lectures for the referees I do consult a lot of topics with them individual or through e-mail. My path to football referees started when I have prepared a lectures for the football trainers, then I have cooperated with domestic 20 team coaches.

Psychology as a scinece comes to Slovak sport very slowly as we can see in a recent years. Where do you see a link between psychology and football refereeing?

If I compare I have to say that the referees are under the bigger stress and pressure than the players or trainers. Referees are still criticised, in addition they have to combine job with the refereeing and this is really difficult. Refereeing demands high precision, consistence and a quality in a profesional football. Therefore you must be highly motivated and very strong mentally if you want to be successful in this job.

You as a specialist prefer positive approach in a problem solution that appears during the match. Can you tell us little bit more about interaction between referee and the players, trainers etc. ? How can we prevent conflicts?

Positive approach in a problem solution means that you try to find an optimal solution in each problem situation that occurs. Many times it is a referee who is in the middle of the conflicts situation and has to solve it. Many times there are a lot of players, trainers, spectators against him. It is therefore neccessary to manage this situation with a long time perspective for each participant. It means that every problem solution must bring something positive for the further development and for the participants.

Football refereeing also requires psychological preparation in many aspects. What are your recommendations towards new referees and towards experienced referess as well?

Slovak referees have normally other occupation, they are not professional referees. They must be able to concenrate for the work and for the comming match at the same time. As I mentioned before, referee has to prepare mentally for the match, to manage the critical moments, stress situations during the match and overall assessment as well.

Generally people consider a referee as a negative factor. Why?

It is almost impossible that a referee can satisfy all persons involed. Defeated team usually tries to find a cause somewhere else and the referee is a good target. I can not understand we still do not use video technology in football as we do in tenis or in ice  hockey. People then can see the matters at issue several times what football referee can not. In other words the football referee is under the excessive pressure.

We believe the cooperation with a Slovak referees continues. What are the next steps and the projects you work on?

During the last UEFA EURO 2008 there was a psychologist for the referees. I am glad that UEFA provides a place for a psychologist in a project „Talent – Mentor“ as well. I can see perspectives at work with Slovak referees and in  improoving of service for them.

What do you think about Slovak football? Can you analyze some cases that are characteristic for the football in Slovakia? For example an interest to become a football player, in refereeing, fans riots etc.

It is really difficult to answer briefly. All of these topics require specific approach. I just believe a sport psychology will participate in all problems that can occur in football.