Referee Mistakes

[Half Empty]

No, but I think that one should at least think about what it's like to be in their position. Would you or I make zero mistakes even with all of the training? Likely not. So the questions become 'What is an acceptable rate of mistakes for referees, and what is the acceptable +/- tolerance around that rate?'

Hard to argue with that. We're on the same page now.

 

[Half Empty]

"I would hate to be a ref......." Agree 100%. Talk about a thankless job, from pee wee football to the pros and across all sports.

Certainly for the volunteers at whatever level, but I wouldn't call what the pro refs get as thankless.

 

[DoURant]

No, but I think that one should at least think about what it's like to be in their position. Would you or I make zero mistakes even with all of the training? Likely not. So the questions become 'What is an acceptable rate of mistakes for referees, and what is the acceptable +/- tolerance around that rate?'

I've been asked a couple times to be an umpire for baseball since I stopped playing... by other umpires, because I was always very respectful of them on the field. I always say no, don't want that job, I saw how others were, even when the umpire was 100% correct in his call...nope!

 

[n4t]

Officials in EVERY sport are human. Thread Over.

Seriously.

It has been a part of every possible sport since the dawn of time. How does anyone not to know this? And demanding 'perfection' is laughable. Do you know what is going to happen to sports as automated computer systems become more and more prevalent due to 'complaints' like this? Did you even think of what that might look like? How about endless delays for 'reviews'? Is that fun?

When you played sports as a kid what did your Dad or Coach teach you about 'bad calls'? Did you learn anything from that? You were supposed to.

 

[Pugger]

I saw a pretty egregious one in the National Championship game when a Miami Hurricane player belted Indiana's quarterback with the crown of his helmet - The quarterback didn't even have the ball at the time. A clear case of targeting which would have resulted in the player being tossed out of the game, but no call. Even the announcers couldn't believe it.

I thought in the NCAA they had an official upstairs who could alert the officials on the field if he/she sees a penalty like this that was missed...? With the speed of the game and so many bodies it is a tall task to ask the officials at ground level to catch everything. It is amazing they see as much as they already do.

 

[OldSchool101]

I saw a pretty egregious one in the National Championship game when a Miami Hurricane player belted Indiana's quarterback with the crown of his helmet - The quarterback didn't even have the ball at the time. A clear case of targeting which would have resulted in the player being tossed out of the game, but no call. Even the announcers couldn't believe it.

Good example. There needs to be proper booth support and on the egregious level stuff if it can be addressed inside :20 sec etc. before the next play, call it.

There’s obviously going to be human error and I think we all realize we don’t need to make it a 4hr game with 44 flags. So the main ones are spot calls where technology can catch it pretty fast. I’m really surprised the fields aren’t equipped with led lights at ground level on the sidelines so the booth can use digital technology to nail the spot better should be a sensor built in the ball that’s within a couple inches accurate in a scrum under the pile etc.

Other than that. I’d agree 95% of the game is called pretty accurate. Let’s not drag it out it takes the fun away from the game.

 

[DABIGZ]

Officials in EVERY sport are human. Thread Over.

Seriously.

It has been a part of every possible sport since the dawn of time. How does anyone not to know this? And demanding 'perfection' is laughable. Do you know what is going to happen to sports as automated computer systems become more and more prevalent due to 'complaints' like this? Did you even think of what that might look like? How about endless delays for 'reviews'? Is that fun?

When you played sports as a kid what did your Dad or Coach teach you about 'bad calls'? Did you learn anything from that? You were supposed to.

This is very true.

But at this level where legalized gambling is a thing, each call gets questioned as to whether they're "rigging".

 

[SINROSSCO]

lol. Reference Robinson. I was raised in Luxemburg just east of Green Bay. In my Junior year in high school I played left guard and we played Denmark. They had two guys over center at over 300lbs and maybe they were brothers. I was the lightest guy in our line at 165, our center was maybe 180. Well, yes, they were slow in those days, and obviously we couldn't move them, so we run the ball around end or off tackle. Back in those days, they were really considered too big to play because they were slow. I believe it was Big Dad Lipscome who played for the Colts was the first over 300. Not sure of that spelling.

Yah! It's not a job I would want. It seems today however, the bad calls this year have been well noted. Could the official in the booth be CYA'ing for some of thee officials? I think one only has to listen to them and certainly our own opinion doesn't agree some of the time with him either and again I say that because it's become too technical. It would be interesting to start a post as to what you would do to change.

Well, it was the NFL that came with the idea of instant replay because of the calls. How long has instant replay been around and they still can't find a fix. Hmmmmmmmmm!

 

[Heyjoe4]

Amen. Back in the day, they had to get a real job after football. I think then too it was viewed more as a sport then a profession in it.
I think now paying college players is going to create more issues.
How about players coming out of high school? Should they now get the shaft over those coming out of college?
I think it's time that sports be separated from education. Sorry schools, you'll have to find a better way to get your money.
Example. Becoming a race car driver has nothing to do with getting a college degree.
I believe it was in the 70's when you had guys in basketball leaving college early to join the pros, they failed and then felt that the world owed them
a living to send them back to college. Really?
Times have so changed and I'm not sure it's all for the right reasons.

Interesting points S. The NBA seems to take a decent number of guys straight from HS. I don't think that would work as well for football.

While both types of players are still growing, physically and emotionally, it amazes me that any player goes straight to the pros from HS. Basketball isn't as physical as football, but it's still a game for strong, young men who can take and give a shot. It takes a very special type to go from HS to the pros.

 

[Wi. Mike now in Florida]

The refs would better off not admitting their mistakes days after a botched call.
It makes them look even dumberer.

 

[Half Empty]

The refs would better off not admitting their mistakes days after a botched call.
It makes them look even dumberer.

I've always wanted to require a press conference sort of thing, where the play can be looked at and the refs asked "what did you think you saw there?"