Referees Dictate Games?
 

Do you feel that referees dictate games at times? Everyone remembers the 1972 Gold Medal Basketball game, and the two screw jobs that happened last year in the NFL playoffs. So, do you feel the referee's decision often dictates how games are played?

As a referee for 6 years, I can say I try to stay as objective as possible. However, watching sports for most of my life, I feel that while most of the time, it's always up to the teams (If the Gnats hadn't blew a 21 pt lead to the 49ers the discussion of that last play wouldn't even matter), but sometimes, referees just make completely atrocious calls (try working with AYSO referees sometime).

Re: Referees Dictate Games?
 

I think refs do indeed dictate games at times, but I'm not sure that they really intend to. Nice to see that you try to stay objective. What sport do you work?

I refree little league football. Those little guys are a handful. I remember when I was their age, ballin out. I will admit, I've unintentionally dictated some games.

I referee soccer.....near the USA Mexico Border....where they teach their 9 yr olds how to dive....where the sidelines at U-10 games are PACKED with entire families chanting...

Needless to say, since they take it seriously, I take my craft seriously as well, and it sucks when my colleagues (much older, much more experienced) refuse to keep going to classes and working on their game.

With that, when I know there's a game coming where I've had a hard time with one of the coaches/parents, I try to stay out of it or at least be the linesman.

I think refs could but I always give them the benefit of the doubt. As you stated, deltasigstan, usually something could have been changed earlier in the game so a team wouldn't have been put in that situation. Its almost commonplace to blame the refs if your team loses but it shouldn't ever have to come down to that.

they damn sure did the arkansas v. auburn game...
the block on the matt jones TD is NOT illegal. I've played football for about 9 years....it is NOT AN ILLEGAL PLAY...the refs need to get off their knees and stop blowing the game like that.

Frater,

How do u know its not agaisnt ncaa rules? Have u played for the ncaa?

I didn't play in D-1 but a couple of my boys did and yes it isn't a penalty because it was a 1 on 1 block and he was blocked outside not inside on the field. If they wanted to call a penalty it's not holding it's an illegal crack block, but since it was to the outside and he wasn't engaged...there is not penalty.

If it was a penalty, it would be called more often. Kinda like the illegal motion auburn pulled 22 times that I counted. It's normally not called, so why call it in this game???????????????????

Stan is right! While there are blown calls, the Refs/Umps are human and do the best that they can!:)

If there is a jaundiced eye, it is not because of the Teams, it is because of The Parents!:(

I tried Umpiring in a Base Ball Game at Home Plate. Shit, it was tuff!:eek:

If you have not done it, then dont be a judge. Some get older just like all Pros do, or not in position to see and make a judgement call! Even NFL replay sometimes can be inconclusive! So just be live and on field, wow, What a Bitch!:(

Kuddos to Stan, Da, Man!:cool:

yeah, but they should not determine the outcome of a major game non the less. let the players decide, not the refs and that didn't happen in our game.

Thanks for the props Tom.

It really doesn't bother me as much if the ref makes one mistake (however costly as it is). My biggest problem is refs that refuse to improve their craft (going to classes, working with other refs) because they've been doing it for so long.

There's a reason corporations have seminars on job performace. There's a reason Fraternities have regional and national chapter workshops. You can always improve. Once you think you can't is when the problems start.

Yea, I'd say that they DEFINITELY dictate the game. At a high school game in Georgia Friday night, the referees didn't even show up!!!!

The game was postponed until Sat. :p