Abstract:

The main aim and focus of this work is to examine the technologies that are currently being used by some of the professional and Olympic sports, to assist referees in making the correct decisions. Five major sports in Australia were examined through discussion groups and interviews. The participants in the study had all officiated from the grassroots level to the elite level, using the technologies being adopted by their sport. The findings present that, in the majority of the examined sports, differing degrees of technology is being applied to aid in the decision making process. When used, technology does provide a mechanism to ensure the correctness of decisions. The success of the introduction of decision support technology is dependant on its usability, appropriate application and acceptance by the officials and participants of the match. The diligent use and application of appropriate technologies can be used as an effective aid to refereeing. Since the introduction of the use of technology to assist the referee, illegal play and tactics have been dramatically reduced and to a certain extent eliminated: subsequently these technologies have been a major contributor to the provision of a fairer platform for competition and led to improved player performance. The findings provide a basis for further studies and possible trials with technologies to assist the referee in providing fair competition and to improve the quality of referees’ decision making.