What and who the research needs: Maturing the psychology of sport officiating.

Abstract

Hancock and Pizzera's (2025) review of research on the psychology of sports officiating provides perspective on the past, present, and future of the area. They highlight key studies and themes in the research (i.e., mental skills, motivation, group dynamics, communication, and decision making), and call for more work on individual sports, demographic diversity, theory that helps explain behaviour, and more focus on mental skills. In response to this article, I provide a perspective on the current maturity and stage of scientific evolution of the area, applying the work of Keathley-Herring et al. (2016) and Shneider (2009). I agree with the main arguments of Hancock and Pizzera. I argue, however, that to evolve and mature, the research needs greater depth as a priority over breadth, more innovative and bold approaches to thinking, design, and methods, and to achieve this, scientists who are connected to application and have personal tendencies towards risk-taking, collaboration, and broad transdisciplinary thinking.