Cognitive Skills and Their Relationship to Decision-Making Skills among Football Referees in Libya

Abstract

This research aims to identify the relationship between mental skills and refereeing decision-making skills among Libyan football referees. It also aims to determine the level of mental skills and decision-making skills among Libyan football referees, identify the correlation between mental skills and refereeing decision-making skills among Libyan football referees, determine the contribution of certain mental skills to refereeing decision-making skills, and obtain predictive equations for refereeing decision-making skills based on mental skills. The researcher used the descriptive method as it is suitable for the nature and objectives of the research. The research sample consisted of (73) Libyan football referees registered with the Libyan Football Federation. The UMSAT Mental Skills Scale and the Refereeing Decision-Making Skills Scale were used. The results showed that the level of mental skills and decision-making skills among Libyan football referees could be identified, and that there is a positive (direct) correlation between the dimensions of mental skills (UMSAT) and refereeing decision-making skills among football referees. In Libya, it was possible to determine the percentage of contribution of some mental skills to the refereeing decision-making skills of football referees in Libya, and predictive equations were obtained for refereeing decision-making skills based on the mental skills of football referees in Libya. The researcher recommends the necessity of utilizing the predictive equations that were obtained in identifying the level of refereeing decision-making among football referees based on their mental skills, and the importance of training football referees in Libya on mental skills to enhance their ability to make correct refereeing decisions in football matches, and for researchers to conduct studies and research to identify the relationship of mental skills with some other variables.