Examining the career dynamics of elite football referees: a unique identification profile

Research into the career dynamics of high-performance level match officials across sports is scarce. The present study analyses elite football referees from childhood to level, creating a context life design and pattern for identifying individuals with potential talent. Twelve international participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews utilizing narrative inquiry. Participants were asked recall all refereeing–related experiences associated their stories obtaining FIFA Elite Referee (FER) position. Data analysis indicated that there two common discourses (early later) an referees’ which helped shape job role increased meaningfulness, providing invaluable insights reaching FER interviewees experienced specific on- off-field, reactions during late) order prepare themselves face challenging conflict-related situations refereeing. Based on stages, types crafting, characteristic levels, we developed unique dynamic identification profile referees. Accordingly, argue talented individual needs undertake training career-based goal setting early career, whilst later should move towards collective game-based setting. paper discusses wider implications research findings, including transferability other societal groups populations, such as public sportspeople, individuals, national federations, referee departments, concludes by considering suggestions future research.