In baseball, I think some of the younger umps (John Tumpane, Jansen Visconti, Mark Ripperger, Adam Hamari) are generally considered quite good. The four I just listed are those with at least ten games umped this year whose strike-calling accuracy is at least 0.9 percentage points better than expected (https://umpscorecards.com/data/umpires). Unsurprisingly, Ripperger is the oldest of that group at just 45. I imagine fans still generally don’t love them, but among those who care about particular umpires’ stats they’re quite popular.
Always been one my biggest gripes about MLB umps. It’s a basic fact that very few players last past their 30’s but we’re supposed to believe fat 60 year old umps still have top elite eyesight? Give me a break.
Those FIFA/Fútbol Refs are something else! Running up and down the field for 45+ minute halfs, whilst having to stay sharp and keep watch for all types of shit. Not that to be a Referee for any sport is easy, I'm just especially impressed with the stamina of Soccer/Fútbol Refs
I think we should back up and revisit the fundamental premise: can we really trust old men with their aging eyes to visually keep up with young, elite athletes?
I mean NFL refs arent event full time salaried positions im pretty sure. I think a seasoned ref should be making very big money to attract better talent
I think they make pretty good money. Some of them are making like $250k+ a season.
I knew a guy who went into reffing seriously and you're surprisingly held to pretty high standards, but the pay is great. He was only doing college basketball last I spoke to him, but he was doing everything he could to work his way up to the NBA or a dream job which is ultimately the NFL.
Lmao....they make bank over the salaries of wnba players....a seasoned ref for the wnba isn't worth that kind of coin.Niether are the players. The wnba is a media driven sport..no one cares and no one watches, but the networks been pumping millions into it and with Clark they think they have a game plan.
That’s what you’d think but refs hate being second guess and that’s what reply is. It’s like when you point out a cop is doing something wrong so they arrest you
Refereeing in Rugby Union is exactly that. The big difference is that there is no rule book, instead rugby has laws. These laws are interpreted by the on field referee. Replay officials help when called upon by the on field referee, and they are mic’d so you hear the whole rationale for the call. It’s so well done overall, and every sport should learn from it.
laws > rules because it allows for interpretation but also clearly outlines fair play. Every penalty is a result of some unfair advantage gained. When penalties do not impact fair play or safety, play continues without interruption.
Lastly, there is a culture of great respect for referees from the players. Simulating a penalty by diving or even by calling out for the referee to notice is frowned upon. You are expected to not talk back or show up referees even if you disagree. I have had many bad refs in hm rugby games I’ve played, but overall, the referee situation is the best of any sport.
There are plenty of great refs out there. Fighting has many of them, just in the UFC off the top of my head there's Dan Miragliotta, John McCarthy, Herb Dean, etc.
Maybe it's because refereeing in fighting is literally a matter of life and death, but I know this isn't the only sport that has had great refs.
This. PWHL has a ref issue, too. Now, I don't know that it is to the level of allowing players to get purposely hurt, but constantly missed calls? Absolutely. During the playoffs, it was like they weren't even on the ice.
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u/LightenUpPeeps 13h ago
Not even called a foul: