Early Career and Seasoned Referees: Contrasting Motivation, Perceptions of Organisational Support and Intention to Continue

Abstract

Research question: The aim of this research was to better understand how perceived organisational support relates to a referees’ motivation and intention to continue (ITC). Research methods: 320 early-career referees (ECRs) and seasoned referees (SRs) were compared across motivation (both onset and continuing dimensions), perceived organisational support and ITC. To analyse the effects of motivation and perceived organisational support on a re-coded dichotomous ITC variable, a series of binary logistic regression analyses were used. Based on tenure, 123 referees were classified as ECRs in their first five years, the remaining 195 were classified as SRs. Results and findings: Results indicated that motivation differs between ECRs and SRs. Furthermore, evidence was found for perceived organisational support as a moderator of sport-related motivation. Whereas, perceived organisational support was not found to moderate the intrinsic, extrinsic, and social motivation–ITC relationship in any way. Implications: Analyses of onset and continuing motivation subscales yielded new insights, and it was also found that ECRs and SRs are not homogeneous groups when it comes to their motivation, perceived organisational support and how it affects their ITC. Sport managers should purposefully tailor their support for ECRs and SRs.