Houison Ronald J, Lamont-Mills Andrea, Kotiw Michael, Terry Peter C
School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia.
Academic Affairs Administration, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich 4305, Australia.
Sports (Basel). 2024 May 9;12(5):128. doi: 10.3390/sports12050128.
Stress research in sports tends to focus on athletes, with sports officials typically being overlooked. In the current study, baseline, pre-game, and post-game cortisol levels among a sample of softball umpires were measured to assess the pattern of stress responses and determine if umpire performance (pass/fail) and position on the diamond (plate/field) could be predicted from cortisol levels. Nine male and four female participants aged 25-68 years ( = 13, = 47.06 ± 15.65 years) each provided saliva samples on multiple occasions prior to and after officiating games at two Australian National Softball Championships. Data from 65 games were analysed. Performance was assessed using Softball Australia's official umpire assessment tool. Cortisol levels increased significantly from baseline to pre-game ( < 0.001, = -0.69) and declined significantly from pre-game to post-game ( < 0.001, = 0.47). Umpiring performances were correctly classified as pass or fail from baseline and pre-game cortisol levels in 61.5% of cases and umpire position on the diamond from pre-game cortisol in 63.1% of cases. Findings suggest that stress management strategies should be recommended to softball umpires for performance enhancement and to safeguard their mental health.
体育领域的压力研究往往聚焦于运动员，体育官员通常被忽视。在本研究中，测量了一组垒球裁判样本在基线、赛前和赛后的皮质醇水平，以评估压力反应模式，并确定能否根据皮质醇水平预测裁判表现（通过/未通过）以及在球场上的位置（本垒/外场）。9名男性和4名女性参与者，年龄在25 - 68岁之间（ = 13， = 47.06 ± 15.65岁），在澳大利亚全国垒球锦标赛的两场比赛执裁前后多次提供唾液样本。分析了65场比赛的数据。使用澳大利亚垒球协会的官方裁判评估工具评估表现。皮质醇水平从基线到赛前显著升高（ < 0.001， = -0.69），从赛前到赛后显著下降（ < 0.001， = 0.47）。在61.5%的案例中，根据基线和赛前皮质醇水平能正确将裁判表现分类为通过或未通过；在63.1%的案例中，根据赛前皮质醇水平能正确判断裁判在球场上的位置。研究结果表明，应向垒球裁判推荐压力管理策略，以提高表现并保障他们的心理健康。
