| Title: |
Intervention accuracy and perception of fatigue in state-level Australian football umpires |
| Authors: |
Wilson, Corey; Scanlan, Mark; Bradbury, Duncan G.; Barley, Oliver R. |
| Source: |
Research outputs 2022 to 2026 |
| Publisher Information: |
Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
Edith Cowan University (ECU, Australia): Research Online |
| Subject Terms: |
Cognitive demands; decision making; free kicks; sports officiating; Medicine and Health Sciences; Sports Sciences |
| Description: |
This investigation examined intervention accuracy and perception of fatigue associated with umpiring state-level Australian Rules football (AF). 39 field umpires (Age: 25.2 ± 6.8 y, Body Mass: 74.6 ± 7.9 kg, Height: 178.9 ± 7.4 cm) employed by the Western Australian Football Commission, were recruited. Intervention accuracy (whether given free kicks were correct) was analysed post-event by the lead investigator using footage of the matches, with two umpire coaches being used for reliability. Perception of fatigue was assessed pre- and post-match using a questionnaire. Data was collected in 22 Western Australian Football League matches in the 2023 season. 384 free kicks were recorded, with 343 correct and 41 incorrect decisions. Each umpire awarded 9.8 ± 3.8 free-kicks, with a distribution of correct-to-incorrect being 8.8 ± 3.2 to 1.1 ± 1.1 free-kicks per match. Intervention accuracy was 89.3 ± 10.4% correct. Significant decline in intervention accuracy between first and second half (W = .931, p = .021) was found. No significant declines in intervention accuracy between quarters were observed. Perception of fatigue was unchanged across matches (p = .074). Our results demonstrate that umpires are generally accurate when adjudicating free kicks but said accuracy declines across a match. The results of this study, provide important insight on free-kick accuracy and perception of fatigue in state-level AF umpires, and may help regulatory bodies designing strategies to improve umpiring outcomes. |
| Document Type: |
text |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
unknown |
| DOI: |
10.1177/17479541241289077 |
| Availability: |
https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks2022-2026/5592; https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541241289077; https://ro.ecu.edu.au/context/ecuworks2022-2026/article/6593/viewcontent/Intervention_accuracy.pdf |
| Rights: |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.B095D02B |
| Database: |
BASE |