Examining the Current State of Baseball Umpiring in Europe : Recruitment, Retention and Efficacy Domains
Jones, Milton (2018)
Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805026250
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805026250
Tiivistelmä
Recruiting and retaining officials for the game of baseball is challenging. Attrition is always issue in sports due to retirement, injury, or personal reasons and therefore there is a never-ending need for new officials. This is exacerbated in Europe by the fact that baseball is not a major national sport in any of the countries. Sports officiating is an important job with physical, mental and technical demands. Officials’ skills go hand in hand with increasing demands of the game: player skills and external pressure from stakeholders. Most available research is overgeneralized and not focused on the sport of baseball and little has been known about the European umpires carrying out officiating duties on the field.
This thesis examines recruitment factors such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. It also considers retention issues including perceived organizational support, self-determination theory, psychological and physical attributes, and sense of community. A survey was used for active umpires in Europe, to which 245 responded. It examines issues such as why they started, their frustrations, reasons for continuing as officials, and efficacy.
The survey results indicated that umpires in Europe start later as officials, are working many games due to a shortage of officials, and experience much verbal abuse. They are also resilient, confident, and are looking for improvements to the amount of support they receive and the environment they work in.
This thesis also introduces two possible development pathways that can be the foundation for improved training and understanding of where an umpire career can lead. Understanding these factors and closer cooperation between officials and their national federations can provide officials with an environment that is enticing, rewarding and fulfilling which will have an impact on the quality of games played in Europe. This thesis provides a solid base for future research of baseball officials in Europe.
This thesis examines recruitment factors such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. It also considers retention issues including perceived organizational support, self-determination theory, psychological and physical attributes, and sense of community. A survey was used for active umpires in Europe, to which 245 responded. It examines issues such as why they started, their frustrations, reasons for continuing as officials, and efficacy.
The survey results indicated that umpires in Europe start later as officials, are working many games due to a shortage of officials, and experience much verbal abuse. They are also resilient, confident, and are looking for improvements to the amount of support they receive and the environment they work in.
This thesis also introduces two possible development pathways that can be the foundation for improved training and understanding of where an umpire career can lead. Understanding these factors and closer cooperation between officials and their national federations can provide officials with an environment that is enticing, rewarding and fulfilling which will have an impact on the quality of games played in Europe. This thesis provides a solid base for future research of baseball officials in Europe.