Comparison of visual and sensory-motor imagery skills in soccer referees with less and more mistakes

This study aims at comparing the visual and sensory-motor imagery skills in soccer referees with less and more mistakes. This was a causal-comparative study and was applied in terms of purpose. Participants included 30 male referees from Fars province who were voluntarily selected and according to average monitoring scores were grouped into two groups of referees with a less mistakes (17 referees) and referees with a more mistakes (13 referees). Marx visual imagery questionnaire (1973) and Isaacs et al motor imagery questionnaire (1986) were used to assess the imagery skills of the referees. Data analysis by independent t-test showed that the referees with less mistakes have higher visual and sensory-motor imagery skills than those with more mistakes, and this helps them to have a lower number of mistakes in their refereeing. Based on the results, referees are advised to use mental imagery skills to improve their performance.