Job characteristics

The aim of this study was to develop a model for examining the mediating role of job characteristics in the relationship between structural empowerment and professional commitment of referees in female's Futsal Premier League. To collect the required data, we distributed the research questionnaires among 75 Futsal Premier League referees invited to the pre-season qualifying class in 2020, and finally we received 63 valid questionnaires. We conducted structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis for data analysis by using PLS Smart software. The findings demonstrated that structural empowerment can predict professional commitment, but the relationship between the two variables was not significant. The relationship of structural empowerment with job characteristics and professional commitment was not significant. The mediating role of job characteristics in the relationship between the two variables was not significant. The components of information sharing in structural empowerment, attachment to professional commitment and diversity of skills in job characteristics had the highest averages. Given that the lack of significance of the relationship among structural empowerment, professional commitment and job characteristics, is questionable and it should be assessed in great details.

This study deals with the effect of structural empowerment on professional commitment of male referees with the mediating role of job characteristics in Iranian football premier League. Datacollected using a self-report survey. In addition to demographic items, the survey comprised 46 items measuring structural empowerment, professional commitment and, job characteristics. Experts in sports management and football refereeing confirmed the face and content validity of the questionnaire. 130 valid questionnaires completed by referees in the Persian Gulf Pro League in Iran. Structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis and, path analysis were conducted for data analysis by using PLS Smart software. The effects of structural empowerment on professional commitment (T-Value= 2.27 and ß= -0. 18) and job characteristics on professional commitment (T-Value = 8.93 and ß = 0.63) were both positive and significant. The effect of structural empowerment on job characteristics (T-Value = 4.94 and ß = 0.43) was positive and significant. Referee’s Job characteristics had a significant mediating role in the relationship between structural empowerment and their professional commitment (T-Value= 4.15, ß= 0.27). The findings can provide critical insights for sport managers be more efficient in the field of football refereeing.