Officials are undeniably key figures in high performance sport, providing some order and regulation within complex and generally unpredictable sport contests. Despite their importance and centrality, a largely incomplete picture exists of their pressurized and complex work. Specifically, the limited existing research has tended to be framed by the `seen but not heard` view of officialdom whereby they are considered to be rather benign rule-appliers. The result has been a somewhat valuable, yet largely narrow and constrained research agenda that often `misses the mark` by emphasising largely decontextualized accounts of fitness, decision-making, and stress. The purpose of this deliberatively polemic paper is to stimulate debate about the important concepts in high-performance officiating, including how they learn their craft. In doing so, we propose that officiating is a complex and fundamentally human activity that demands authentic investigations considering the vital reciprocity between the official, their environment, and their dynamic role.
© Copyright 2021 Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics. Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.