NIRSA Student Referees: Exploring the Connection between Sense of Community and Positive Health and Wellbeing Outcomes

Abstract

Despite working in complex environments, which require managing antagonistic and abusive relationships, sport referees are essential to ensure fair and safe competition. Evidence suggests officiating can positively impact wellbeing and officiating communities provide social support. Despite those positives, there remains a shortage of qualified officials, which is compounded by aging referee populations. These concerns emphasize the need to attract young people and examine wellbeing benefits resulting from involvement in officiating communities. As such, the aim of this study is to help NIRSA professionals better understand how the community or social networks made through officiating intramural sports could better support student employee wellbeing. Semistructured interviews with 44 referees aged, 18 to 23, revealed themes describing the relationship between sense of community and wellbeing. Details about the three major themes, individual wellbeing, community wellbeing, and importance of campus recreation, and seven subthemes will be discussed. Practical implications to help campus recreation professionals understand factors impacting retention, feelings of community, and student referees’ wellbeing will be presented.