European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science ISSN: 2501 - 1235 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1235 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1145469 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOURCES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND THE LEVEL OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG FOOTBALL REFEREES Charbi Belkacem1i, Khader Salih2 Dr., Teacher and Lecturer, Class A, 1 Institute of Physical and Sports Sciences and Techniques, University Zian Achour, Djelfa, Algeria, Director of the Laboratory of the Sport System in Algeria Dr., Teacher and Lecturer, Class A, 2 Institute of Physical and Sports Sciences and Techniques, University Zian Achour, Djelfa, Algeria, Member at the Laboratory of Prevention and Drug Control Strategies in Algeria Abstract: This survey aims at revealing the relationship of sources of psychological stress to the level of self-esteem. It focused mainly on the following questions:   Is there a correlation between fear of physical abuse and self-esteem?  Is there a correlation between rewards, incentives, and self-esteem?  esteem?  Is there a correlation between physical condition, time and level of self-esteem?  Is there a correlation between personal conflict and level of self-esteem? Is there a correlation between conflict of social dimension and level of self-  Is there a correlation between media dimension and level of self-esteem?  Is there a correlation between fear of failure and level of self-esteem? Is there a correlation between media dimension and level of self-esteem? The survey suggested a number of hypotheses based on the existence of a correlation between each of the dimensions of psychological stress mentioned above and the level of self-esteem. The study was based on the descriptive correlative approach as it dealt with the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variables. The sample of the study consisted of elite referees of the Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 575 Charbi Belkacem, Khader Salih THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOURCES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND THE LEVEL OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG FOOTBALL REFEREES professional football division, which was chosen in a deliberate manner, and reached 80 referees. The following tools have been used: the self-assessment scale prepared by Hussein Abdel Aziz Al-Derini and Mohamad Ahmad Oussama, Abdelwahab Mohamad Kamil which has been applied and adapted by Professor Bachir Mamria on the Algerian environment, psychological sources of stress measure and initial information form. These tools were applied after estimating the psychometric properties that confirmed their suitability for use with the basic study sample. The following statistical methods have been relied on, Pearson correlation coefficient using the statistical software version 20 SPSS for statistical significance.  The study comes out with the following results:  There is a correlation between rewards, incentives, and self-esteem.  esteem.  There is a correlation between physical condition, time and level of self-esteem.  There is a correlation between personal conflict and level of self-esteem.  There is a correlation between fear of physical abuse and self-esteem. There is a correlation between conflict of social dimension and level of self-  There is a correlation between media dimension and level of self-esteem.  There is a correlation between fear of failure and level of self-esteem. There is a correlation between media dimension and level of self-esteem. The study outcomes have been discussed in light of the theoretical framework and the results of previous studies and concluded with a set of proposals. Keywords: psychological stress; self-esteem; football referees 1. Introduction Stress is one aspect of athletic performance that athletes (athletes, coaches, and referees) often experience as a natural consequence of focusing on success or fear of failure poor evaluation, inability to control, control emotions, or loss of self-confidence resulting from committing the same error or performance instability. Different studies indicate that one of the main reasons leading to the failure of most athletes or inability to reach the maximum possible performance is the ability to focus attention during the psychological stress. (Shamoon, Al-Jamal, 1996 and Mustafa, 2001, and Al-Saka 2003, Crocker & Isaak, 1997) The researchers believe that the more an individual knows the limits of his abilities, the more effective it is to interact with different life situations without problems or psychological conflicts. This goes in line with what Pandora referred to in European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 576 Charbi Belkacem, Khader Salih THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOURCES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND THE LEVEL OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG FOOTBALL REFEREES 1982, where he believes that the concept of the individual about himself is a key factor in the definition and interpretation of human behavior. The effectiveness of the selfperception affects the patterns of thinking and behavior and emotional excitement, the higher the level of self-efficacy, the higher the achievement and the abandonment of failure experiences as well as self-regulation of reflexes. (Bandura, 1982.P122) Even the sport, which was practiced for fun and entertainment, has become a great human development in one of the important economic areas, especially football, which is the number one game in the sequence of games. Specialists have always sought to develop the game and make it the most attractive among sports because it attracts the attention of most of the masses of sports because of the fun of performance and pleasure in follow-up. Even when setting the game regulations, the main goals targeted are the public enjoyment as well as the safety of players and equality between the two teams, and it was stressed to the referees of football to avoid mistakes and maintain the safety of players and pleasure through watching a beautiful game where law is wisely and perfectly applied. Based on the above, we recognize that the law is a tool to make more glamour for football and therefore specialists and researchers focused on referees in the implementation of the law of the game in the stadiums in terms of physical and psychological rehabilitation and other qualifications that make them able to successfully and accurately manage matches in football. With this big interest of specialists, spectators, players and the media in all its forms, which in turn put great pressure on the rulers of football causing many parties, football referees have become in need of those who support them, especially that scientific studies about the referees in our country are almost non-existent. Football refereeing is one of the main factors underlying the success and failure of sports competition in general and football in particular. It is noticeable in this competition that talk and controversy have been frequent at the level of arbitration and its impact on the course of the game and thus, blaming the performance of this person without returning of the competent authorities to know the real reasons behind the low level of referees through knowing and understanding at least the factors leading to it. While good refereeing pushes players to master and concentrate on playing without protest, bad refereeing has many disadvantages that lead to the lack of benefit from the exercise of sports activity. Bad refereeing may generate riots of supporters and possible injuries adding to this rough play may be accompanied by poor refereeing, followed by lack of sportsmanship, matches, hereby, lose their educational and artistic value and therefore the whole sports activity loses a lot of spirit and pleasure, protests will also increase and cause the disappearance of the spirit of satisfaction, as well as the European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 577 Charbi Belkacem, Khader Salih THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOURCES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND THE LEVEL OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG FOOTBALL REFEREES social benefit, which is one of the most important foundations on which sports activity is based. Although the sports umpire carries heavy burdens and troubles, he is happy to practice them and does not care about their problems because he is motivated by happiness and passion for the game. Therefore, he always strives to succeed through continuous work, including physical and technical obligations, and this is the culmination of development and success to reach the highest levels. The referee's self-esteem is considered an important dimension in sports activity. One of the qualities of the character of sports referee, which has become a criterion of effectiveness, appreciation for itself, which has the greatest impact on the personality of players, coaches and administrators. (Mohamed Jamal Abdel Moneim, 2008, p14) For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejep/article/view/1365 European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science - Volume 3 │ Issue 12 │ 2017 578