Burnout among Football Referees in the Western Region

Abstract

The term "burnout" appeared in scientific literature in association with work pressure. It was defined as a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion resulting from intense love, dedication, and continuous devotion to the job, but without achieving the desired benefit or any significant return. Burnout is one of the psychological pressures that can affect the behavior of athletes in general and match referees in particular, as the referee is primarily responsible for applying the law and making decisions that govern the course of sports competitions. The study sample included (25) first- and second-division football referees in the Western Region for the 2024/2025 sports season. The researchers used the Sports Referee Burnout Scale, designed by Robert Weinberg, Wege, and Richardson, to measure the sports referee's feelings of burnout under the heading "Burning in Refereeing." This scale was adapted and modified from the Maslach Burnout Inventory and includes (15) statements. The researchers concluded that the arithmetic means of the study sample's responses to each item on the scale ranged between (2.16 - 3.44). Furthermore, the degree of burnout was high among football referees in the Western Region.