The Role of Core Job Characteristics in Estimating Job Involvement in Iran Soccer Referees

This study was designed to predict the attitudinal construct of job involvement through core job characteristics in soccer referees. 157 referees and assistant referees working in Iran premier and A division soccer leagues responded to standard questionnaires of Work Design (Morgeson and Humphrey, 2006) and Job Involvement (Kanungo, 1982). Regarding the number of referees, statistical sample equaled the statistical population. Face validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by 17 sport management experts and soccer referees. The most important descriptive results showed that A-league referees reported more job involvement than premier league referees. Also, the results of structural equation model illustrated that the most important job characteristics influencing soccer referees’ job involvement were autonomy, task identity, and feedback. Although task identity and autonomy were fit, these indexes were not confirmed for pathway of feedback to job involvement. These findings recommend that referees should be assigned more authority and job rules should be revised. Finally, managers of soccer referees are suggested to eliminate referees’ false responsibilities and pressures in addition to revising and changing assistant referees’ tasks during this job redesigning.