Effect of Level 1 Handball Referees’ Knowledge on Decision-Making

Abstract

Background: In handball, referees make rapid, high-stakes decisions under physical and psychological pressure. While much of the existing literature has focused on elite officials, little is known about how foundational knowledge from entry-level referee training, specifically Level 1 certification, influences decision-making accuracy in newly certified referees. This study investigates how rule-based knowledge acquired through Level 1 training predicts decision-making performance in practical officiating scenarios among Malaysian handball referees. It addresses the gap in empirical research evaluating the effectiveness of novice referee training programs on real-time cognitive performance. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the rule-based knowledge and decision-making accuracy of newly certified Level 1 handball referees and to determine the relationship and predictive effect of rule-based knowledge on referees’ decision-making performance. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design involving 52 male referees recently certified through Malaysia’s Level 1 Handball Referee Course was employed. Participants completed the Handball Referee Knowledge Assessment (HRKA), a 30-item validated test based on the 2022 IHF rules, and a scenario-based video decision-making test. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA to compare knowledge scores across age and experience groups, Pearson correlation to assess the relationship between HRKA scores and decision-making accuracy, and linear regression to determine predictive power. Results: Participants recorded a mean HRKA score of 21.80 (SD = 2.26) and a mean decision-making score of 32.81 (SD = 3.32). ANOVA revealed significant differences in HRKA scores based on refereeing experience (p = .026), though not age. A strong positive correlation was found between HRKA scores and decision-making accuracy (r = .788, p < .001). Regression analysis confirmed that HRKA scores significantly predicted decision-making performance (R² = .662, p < .001). Conclusion: Level 1 referee knowledge is a statistically significant predictor of decision-making accuracy. These findings highlight the critical role of rule-based cognitive knowledge in early officiating performance and support the integration of rigorous knowledge assessments in referee training and certification programs.