AN ANLYSIS OF UMPIRES DECISION MAKING IN HOME AND AWAY ELITE NETBALL GAMES

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the accuracy of officials in the calls made during 28 games of the netball super-league between 2005 and 2008. According to Flemmings and Jones (2010) the role of the official is to maintain a moral balance within the game. The literature review suggested that there is a general understanding that teams may experience bias officiating when playing away. However along with this is a general understanding that there are numerous explanations which justify the officiating as fair as well as identifying factors which may influence the officials’ decision making. The technique used in this study was quantitative, which allowed for the appropriate data to be collected. For the study a hand notational system was designed to successfully notate the decisions made and missed by the officials. Reliability studies were carried out with one external observer which allowed for inter and intra-observer reliability to be obtained, which then confirmed that the study was accurate and reputable. The results of this study indicated that across the 28 matches there was a bias towards the home teams. This bias was experienced by the home and away teams, through unfair calls being made against the away team more frequently, as well as a bias in relation to the score line through leading teams being allowed to further their lead sometimes in an unfair way.