Ben, Running approximately 8 Km in 80 minutes with a heart rate in the 150-160 range making 2000 plus decisions each half on almost as many laws (and clauses) while dealing with the elevated emotional states of players "in contest" thinking about what is the material effect of the law in play and what makes for a free-flowing game without disadvantages to the other side?
All the time the coaches and their team of techs are working out how to get the slightest edge in the grey areas of the law to given them the best chance to win.
Unfortunately, this stuff is only known by the insiders and the poor spectator just wants to have a beer and see their team win or have a real serious go!
As you can tell I ref. Believe me when the losing captain thanks you for a good game it makes it all worth it. Sadly "the ones who know less speak loudest!" Often they work for TV channels and newspapers.
There's mistakes/errors. Perfection is an unreasonable & unattainable expectation. Incompetence & bias is however unacceptable at any level, but particularly at the top flight.
Bryce Lawrence will forever take the cake on both counts.
Totally agree incompetence and bias are unacceptable, but both are very subjective. Not sure how they can be measured and then managed out of the game, apart from no hometown refs.
Incompetence is measurable via post match reviews. Refs should be measured & their future career in the game determined. Particularly at the professional level. Just like the players.
That's just as subjective as the criteria that determine whether a player is dropped from the starting XV or match day 23 or dumped from the club. But it has to be done & can be.
Ben, Running approximately 8 Km in 80 minutes with a heart rate in the 150-160 range making 2000 plus decisions each half on almost as many laws (and clauses) while dealing with the elevated emotional states of players "in contest" thinking about what is the material effect of the law in play and what makes for a free-flowing game without disadvantages to the other side?
All the time the coaches and their team of techs are working out how to get the slightest edge in the grey areas of the law to given them the best chance to win.
Unfortunately, this stuff is only known by the insiders and the poor spectator just wants to have a beer and see their team win or have a real serious go!
As you can tell I ref. Believe me when the losing captain thanks you for a good game it makes it all worth it. Sadly "the ones who know less speak loudest!" Often they work for TV channels and newspapers.
Managing the players emotions would be the hardest bit I reckon, and referee fitness is just as important as player fitness!!!
And "Sadly "the ones who know less speak loudest!"" will forever be the case I think.
There's mistakes/errors. Perfection is an unreasonable & unattainable expectation. Incompetence & bias is however unacceptable at any level, but particularly at the top flight.
Bryce Lawrence will forever take the cake on both counts.
Totally agree incompetence and bias are unacceptable, but both are very subjective. Not sure how they can be measured and then managed out of the game, apart from no hometown refs.
Incompetence is measurable via post match reviews. Refs should be measured & their future career in the game determined. Particularly at the professional level. Just like the players.
What I meant was: What % of calls need to be wrong in order for a ref to be labelled as "incompetent"?
That's just as subjective as the criteria that determine whether a player is dropped from the starting XV or match day 23 or dumped from the club. But it has to be done & can be.