The Coping Strategies Employed by Tunisian Football Referees and Assistant Referees in Terms of Gender, Role Specialization, and Degree

Bibliographic Data

ID22006134
AuthorsJamel Hajji (0000-0002-9991-0025, Tunis University, corresponding author), Abdulnaser Fakhrou (0000-0003-4376-2665, Qatar University), Hedi Zammel (University of Sfax), Oussama Bouyahya (0009-0008-0539-7453, University of Sfax), Zouhier Ben Jannet (University of Sfax), Sefa Bulut (0000-0002-2622-4390, Ibn Haldun University)
Year2026
Volume16
Issue2
Publication date2026-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/21582440261418227
OpenAlexW7163321724
LanguageEN
References cited70

This study examines the profile of coping strategies employed by Tunisian football referees and assistant referees, considering gender, role specialization, and professional rank. Ninety-four participants (mean age = 25.78 years, SD = 6.23) affiliated with the Tunisian Football Federation completed the Arabic version of the Inventory of Coping Strategies in Sports Competitions (ICSCS) after officiating matches. ICSCS assesses 10 coping strategies: mental imagery, thought control, effort expenditure, seeking support, relaxation, logical analysis, venting unpleasant emotions, disengagement, social withdrawal, and mental distraction. The results reveal significant differences in coping strategies based on gender, role specialization, and rank. Male referees tend to favor task-focused strategies, such as logical analysis and effort, whereas female referees often employ emotional strategies, including social support and relaxation ( p p p

Avoidance coping · Disengagement theory · Football · Football players · Logical analysis · Psychological intervention · Sport Psychology · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Sport Psychology and Performance

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