Facilitating a positive environment: the role of resilience, mental fortitude and conflict management when supporting match officials

Formal and informal support networks are essential for sports match officials to operate effectively. Whether this support network is initiated by governing bodies, or organised by the referees or umpires themselves, any incidents of abuse heighten the importance of support around these match officials. Match officials identified the importance of these support networks and communicated misgivings around the disciplinary processes that they have experienced. This chapter also contemplates the role of resilience and its importance as an essential trait for match officials, the mental fortitude and toughness required for individual match officials, alongside a facilitative and supportive environment in which match officials operate. Moreover, the role of intergroup conflict between match officials, players, coaches and spectators is considered and how conflict resolution can be utilised to address some of these intergroup issues.