Pamm Phillips

Umpiring: a serious leisure choice

Umpire (or referee) recruitment and retention is an issue for many sports, yet little is known about the positive experiences that influence an individual’s decision to continue umpiring. This research examined umpiring as serious leisure. Nineteen volunteer umpires in Australian Rules football were interviewed. There are four key findings from this research: individuals actively choose to umpire rather than to engage in other leisure activities; individuals derive meaning from engaging in umpiring, and understand themselves as athletes; umpires experience isolation; and, socialisation within the umpire group is important group cohesion and assists in reinforcing identity and meaning. Umpiring is a serious leisure pursuit that can be complementary to other leisure activities. This research outlines strategies for recruitment and retention.Abstract Umpire (or referee) recruitment and retention is an issue for many sports, yet little is known about the positive experiences that influence an individuals decision to continue umpiring. This research examined umpiring as serious leisure. Nineteen volunteer umpires in Australian Rules football were interviewed. There are four key findings from this research: individuals actively choose to umpire rather than to engage in other leisure activities; individuals derive meaning from engaging in umpiring, and understand themselves as athletes; umpires experience isolation; and, socialisation within the umpire group is important group cohesion and assists in reinforcing identity and meaning. Umpiring is a serious leisure pursuit that can be complementary to other leisure activities. This research outlines strategies for recruitment and retention.