Category: Article

Source: “Spori, ezért bírom magát, mert őszintén beismeri a hibáját is!” – interjú a legjobb magyar játékvezetővel – nb1.hu

There are 17 rules in the referees' code which can be taken as basic principles. In addition, there is an 18th unwritten rule, which refers to how you apply them. We talked about these pedagogical and psychological skills with the professional chosen as the best referee of 2023. This article on sports psychology is based on a personal in-depth interview with Balázs Berke.

Then and now

Balázs Berke, 40, is one of the most qualified referees in the NB I. He has been on the pitch for almost 20 years. He is a prominent example of the new generation of referees, where physical fitness has become crucial as football has speeded up. But to choose this profession, it was also necessary to have a love of the game. "I have always loved the sport. As I was not so talented as a player, I started learning to be a referee at my father's suggestion. I wanted to stay in the football environment," he said. From a very young age, he watched the matches of well-known colleagues and learned from them the refereeing skills that were useful to him, consciously building them into his developing refereeing character.

In the beginning, Balázs found it difficult to cope with his mistakes on the pitch, even spending weeks ruminating on them. He said that a sports psychologist could have been a solution in those times to help him deal with his mistakes more quickly. However, in the early days of his refereeing career, he had to deal with these situations alone. He trained himself and developed the practice of honest self-criticism. He still sees this skill as one of his greatest virtues. " Mistakes are still painful today, but I move on sooner. I watch the game back, learn from it and move on," said the now experienced referee.

n the beginning, the community of referees in Zala County meant a lot to him, from whom he received a lot of professional and mental support. However, there were occasions when, despite the referee supervisor's rating of his performance in a certain match as good, he had a different opinion. "I was striving for perfection even then and that has been the case since the arrival of VAR," said Berke, who has a strong character.

Video Assist System (VAR) through the eyes of the referee

In the Debrecen - Paks match in the summer of 2020, Balázs made a good judgement on a ball bouncing off the goal line, and did not award a goal to the home team. This meant the survival of Paks and the relegation of DVSC, which had a great impact on the professional future and existence of teams and players. And "justice won". At that time, there was no video assistant system, which nowadays can make it easier for referees to take action in match- deciding situations. However, he says of the VAR system: "My first priority is to resolve the situation, a hundred times out of a hundred. That is the aim. For me, VAR is a confirmation that I made the right decision." Adding that the video assistant system is very useful in judging decisive situations.  

Partner relationship

In addition to physical fitness, self-criticism and a strong character, Balázs says that his ability to deal with players as partners has helped him to reach a high level in his profession, game management. But this also requires adapting to the player's character, which requires pedagogical skills. There are athletes who ask for a gesture and it is necessary to keep a three-step distance with them. Sometimes, however, the player's request for a gesture may be followed by a handshake, a stricter vocal command or even a more direct request. "It's important not to lose the team, the players. Therefore, I prepare for the upcoming match consciously, taking into account how I can keep in touch and at the same time keep my distance. That's how I'm credible."

This kind of attitude is also respected by athletes. A good example of this is a previous championship match, in which the referee made a mistake in judging a foul, which the visiting team player complained about. Balázs responded, "You may be right that I made a mistake. At the end of the match, the same player walked up to him and finished with the following feedback: "Spori, that's why I like you, because you honestly accept your mistake!"

10 seconds

As a former goalkeeper, I can see a correlation between the responsibility of goalkeeping and refereeing. A goalkeeper can save a whole match brilliantly, but one mistake can have a huge impact on the outcome. In the same way, a referee can be perfect, but a critical mistake can cost one team three points. The question is, how can this pressure be compensated for? What can motivate a referee, apart from the love of the sport, to choose this career and to stay in it in the long term? Balázs said, "I wish my young referee colleagues to experience the 10 seconds when Ferencváros and Újpest are led out for a derby. It's an inspiring feeling, that's why it's worth choosing this profession."

We rarely think about the mental world of referees. Nowadays, it is completely acceptable for referees to visit a sports psychologist to cope with the difficulties of a bad decision or even for development aims to become an even better professional. This is also a possible way for the refereeing society to develop professionals such as Balázs Berke.

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Source: A kiégést észre kell venni, különben nagy baj lehet – nb1.hu

Burnout in sport

Burnout is a common issue that affects many athletes, but is often discussed as a taboo subject. Burnout is a condition that happens when someone is exposed to long-term stress. And they can no longer cope on their own. Take the case of a young footballer who is showing symptoms of burnout. His coach reacts like this: "Don't you want to go to the training?!". Or "You are not committed enough!". Overtraining, overload, injuries and the pressures of competitive sport are common stress factors. If these symptoms appear, it is important that the athlete takes a break in time. It is necessary to rest and to find out what is causing the stress with the help of a professional.

This article explores the problem of burnout from a player's perspective. But it is equally relevant for coaches, club managers, parents and all people involved in sport. It can help us to become more sensitive to the signs of burnout in our environment.

Reasons for burnout in athletes

There are many reasons why athletes burn out, one of the most common being the lack of positive feedback and reinforcement. As a result, the player becomes dissatisfied with his situation and his self-confidence decreases. Coaches often try to achieve success with their players through inadequate communication. This can result in burnout and, in extreme cases, retirement from the sport. It can also lead to the leaving of a team-mate who has been a support in the player's life. The lack of a partner can have a negative effect on his motivation. Positive reinforcement can therefore be asked for and received by the player from someone other than his coach, someone who is credible to him, as a coping strategy. It is also useful to give positive feedback to yourself when you have done something well according to your own expectations.

The next reason for burnout can be monotony, overwork and, at the same time, lack of rest. Basically, it is the responsibility of the professional staff working alongside the coaches to prepare the players adequately for their current match. However, the sports psychologist can also be a warning system, recognising the signs of overwork. The chance of being selected for the team usually makes players present themselves as tough and tireless, which is not an honest communication to the coach. Therefore, a sports psychologist can play an important role in recognising overwork and, in consultation with the player, can report it to his coach. Signs of overwork include fatigue, mood swings, loss of motivation, loss of appetite, frequent illnesses and injuries, sleep problems, stagnant or decreasing performance. As well as the already mentioned decreased self-confidence.

Other reasons may be too high expectations of the player, too difficult or unrealistic goals A good example of this is a case I had with a youth footballer. Under pressure from his parents, he was selected for a very strong secondary school after finishing his primary education. As it was important for the family to continue high level studies, they wanted to motivate their child by saying that if he did not get at least a 4 average in his semester, he could temporarily give up football. However, for the player, football was the first priority, so the training sessions meant that he was unable to fulfil the academic requirements. Finally, by discussing the situation with the parents, the young player's burnout was prevented.

The burnout process

The burnout process can be divided into five stages. If the athlete is intervened in one of the first four stages, a complete burnout can be prevented.

In the idealism stage, the player throws himself into training with great enthusiasm. He often sets himself unrealistic goals. In my experience, this is very typical during the pre-season, when a player is new to a team. In such cases, the player wants to show that he has more potential than his performance in the previous season. That's fine, it's about setting realistic goals. And to achieve them step by step, the right strategy must be defined.

The realism stage the player realises his own abilities, potential and limitations. It is then that he creates a more realistic image of himself. However, this requires self-awareness, because it can be disappointing if he or she is not able to achieve the goal he or she has planned and desired for so long. A strong network of relationships, family support and consciousness can be important at this stage.

If the player enters a stagnation stage,, his enthusiasm and performance decrease. His interest in training tasks and matches is reduced. This is often perceived by the coach as a lack of commitment on the field. The coach thinks: "I have another player who is more motivated, I'll put him in instead." But this makes the footballer even less motivated and leads to further burnout. This is usually when the player or his coach asks for the help of a sports psychologist. After all, the athlete is no longer performing on the pitch in the way he or she was hired to perform.

In the fourth, frustration stage, the athlete's own expectations no longer match reality, leading to serious frustration. At this point, the player often escapes into training and the compulsion to prove the training work becomes dominant. While his private sphere is reduced, his relationship with his team-mates and coach deteriorates. His private life also suffers. In this case, a longer process of sports psychology is needed, usually combined with a change of club and a process of integration into the new team.

In the apathy stage, apathy and disinterest are the most common symptoms. The player is introverted, depressed, hopeless and lacking in enthusiasm. He does not set new goals for himself for fear of real or perceived defeat. He finds no joy in sport or in his private life. This condition can lead to health problems, mental disorders and injuries. At this stage, the athlete's identity is being questioned and the end of competitive sport is being considered.

Burnout prevention and handling

The well-trained coach manages his or her athlete's strength, looking for methods that result in a diversified workload. He sets realistic goals for his player and focuses on the overall development process. Not just temporary success. He sees the player as a partner and takes his professional ideas and feedback seriously. It is useful to indicate to the player what he was good at during a training session or match. Then discuss what he needs to improve on. Giving clear, concrete instructions, positive criticism and supportive communication are essential to prevent burnout.

Another important aspect is that there should be periods between training sessions and matches when the athlete is allowed the "luxury of rest". When they can do something completely unrelated to their sport. Recharged, they will perform more effectively, which ultimately leads to team success. It is also the athlete's responsibility to consult a sports psychologist if he or she is experiencing symptoms of burnout. They can learn a variety of relaxation techniques to help them cope with tension and relax effectively. During the process of sports psychology, the footballer can focus on himself and develop self-knowledge. He learns to recognise, accept and take seriously the signals of his body.

All in all, the balance between skills, challenges, private life and sport is an essential factor in preventing burnout. In my work, I have noticed that athletes are nowadays less and less secretive about the fact that they consult a sports psychologist. Realistic self-assessment involves recognising that they need professional support to protect and develop their mental health.