Perceptual-cognitive expertise when refereeing the scrum in rugby union
Moore, LJ; Harris, DJ; Sharpe, BT; et al.Vine, SJ; Wilson, MR
Date: 25 March 2019
Journal
Journal of Sports Sciences
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Compared to sports performers, relatively little is known about how sports officials make decisions at
a perceptual-cognitive level. Thus, this study examined the decision-making accuracy and gaze behaviour
of rugby union referees of varying skill levels while reviewing scrum scenarios. Elite (n = 9) and
trainee (n = 9) referees, ...
Compared to sports performers, relatively little is known about how sports officials make decisions at
a perceptual-cognitive level. Thus, this study examined the decision-making accuracy and gaze behaviour
of rugby union referees of varying skill levels while reviewing scrum scenarios. Elite (n = 9) and
trainee (n = 9) referees, as well as experienced players (n = 9), made decisions while watching ten
projected scrum clips and wearing a mobile eyetracker.
Decision-making accuracy and gaze behaviour were recorded for each scrum. The elite and
trainee referees made more accurate decisions than the players, and differences in gaze behavior were
observed. The elite and trainee referees displayed lower search rates, spent more time fixating central pack
(i.e., front rows, binds, and contact point) and less time fixating outer-pack (e.g., second rows) and
non-pack (e.g., other) locations, and exhibited lower entropy than the players. While search rate failed
to predict decision-making accuracy, the time spent fixating central-, outer-, and non-pack locations, as
well as entropy, were significant predictors. The findings have implications for training perceptual cognitive
skill among sports officials.
Sport and Health Sciences
Collections of Former Colleges
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