2024 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 111-126
In a soccer game, the referee’s judgment and behavior are very important because they can lead to game control, the frustration of the players and coaches, and even influence the score. This paper analyzes the comments of referees of different qualification levels who discuss their thoughts while watching a video of a soccer match. This research employs think-aloud protocol analysis, in which each referee was asked to relay everything that they felt and noticed while watching the video. The analysis showed that perspectives and thoughts were clearly different depending on level. Level 4 referees were seen to speak from a third-person perspective, while Level 3 referees spoke from the referee’s perspective. Level 2 referees had a perspective of the entire field, including the positioning of the players and referees, while Level 1 referees had a perspective of the entire game. In addition, when it came to situations that influenced the flow of the game, the results of the analysis shed light on the management perspectives of referees of all levels. Through this analysis, the paper discusses how discourse research can contribute to soccer in regard to the training and development of future referees.
