Exploring Perceptions of Group Processes in Ice Hockey Officiating

Abstract

Understanding factors that influence sport officials' performance is vital to ensuring fair sport competition. Through semistructured interviews (N = 17), we explored officials' perceptions of group processes that occurred among ice hockey officiating teams. Participant responses revealed numerous ways that group processes were present within officials' interactions, and two unique characteristics involved the transient nature of officiating groups (frequently performing with different officials) and intrateam competition pertaining to postseason assignments. In the discussion, we expand on the unique nature of officiating groups, synthesize activities in which officials seek to enhance groupness, and provide insights for future interventions and researchers.

Notes

1 The Canadian Hockey League (athletes ages 16–20) is a national amateur ice hockey league, which includes a small percentage of international players. It is considered the most elite amateur ice hockey league in the world, producing 40%–50% of the draftees for the National Hockey League (http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=31877#2).

2 The Canadian Junior Hockey League (athletes ages 15–20) is a national amateur ice hockey league, one tier below the Canadian Hockey League. Players often attain collegiate scholarships, with a small percentage being drafted to the National Hockey League. We recruited from one branch of this league, the Central Canada Hockey League.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by an internal grant from Indiana University Kokomo.