3 Grahams and a Mic - Episide 7 - How much impact can referees and umpires really have?

From Three Grahams and a Mic Podcast · 55:30

Show by threegrahamsandamic

See some of the research that went into this weeks episode. In no way do we condone abuse of referees or umpires. We just hoped to highlight the complexity surrounding referees and umpires. Officiating is frequently in the spotlight for determining the outcome of games. But should it be? Nobody goes to a sporting event to watch the referees, umpires or officials. It’s just a simple fact of sports. People watch or attend games to root for their team, the athletes that play the game or the sport itself. Officials are necessary to police the game, and while they’re an important component to sports, they shouldn’t stand out. They should simply blend into the background and let players play the game. But between video replay, coaching challenges and a greater attention to player safety, game officials have more influence over the outcomes of games than ever before, for better or worse. As the emphasis on player safety continues to grow, it’s more important than ever for officials to help enforce and maintain proper rules. It is, after all, their job to ensure the game is played safely. And that’s especially true in sports today, where rules are constantly evolving to protect players. Those rules, however, might be giving officials too much influence. By allowing them to have more judgment on things like contact and what constitutes a safe hit versus a dangerous one means there is no consistency in calls from play-to-play and game-to-game. Goals, drives, games and seasons sometimes come down to one official’s interpretation of an ever-changing rule or a judge being overly cautious. And it’s not just professional sports, but all ranks and ages. Nothing is more maddening then watching your team’s defense end a drive with a great coverage play, only for the drive to be kept alive by a ticky-tack low hit on the other side of the field that didn’t affect the outcome. Or a power play that’s awarded for aggressive-looking contact that doesn’t actually cause any harm. The same is true for things like instant replay and coaching challenges. There is a seemingly endless need for games to be played to perfection, with every call scrutinized and replayed over and over. But getting rid of the human error has only put a brighter spotlight on officials, particularly when calls are still made incorrectly after being reviewed. In the past, a call was made or a call was missed. Those were just the breaks of the game, and athletes were taught to overcome the uncontrollable and keep playing hard. That’s what sports are all about; athletes and coaches are always striving for perfection, but athletics are simply random. But instant replay is not going away. If anything, it is only going to increase in usage. And keeping athletes safe isn’t just a fad, but the present and future of sports. So the question becomes: Where do we draw the line on officials influencing the outcomes? Football referees: death threats, physical violence and verbal abuse are all part of the job Most spectators will have witnessed a situation where an official is harassed for making an unfavourable call. Whether it is a professional footballer insulting the referee’s mother, or parents of junior players threatening officials at a local five-a-side match, abusing the ref has become a “normal” part of football. Match officials encounter an array of hostile behaviours from players, coaches and spectators ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault. The most common form of abuse exhibited is verbal aggression, with 64% of match officials in one study claiming to have frequently experienced such actions, followed by threats (36%). Worryingly 15% of the match officials reported physical abuse while on the job – and it’s not rare for match officials to be hospitalised as a result of physical attacks. Emotional impact Exposure to abuse can have adverse effects on an official’s performance, many referees report a loss in concentration and motivation after being criticised by players and spectators. And more serious effects of abuse can also develop long after the game. Research has shown that exposure to similar forms of abuse within other occupational settings can have numerous psychological consequences – including an increase in anxiety levels. The damaging effects of this abuse are reflected in the dwindling referee retention rates – with more referees quitting their jobs due to being constantly abused. This is likely to lead to a reduction in skilled match officials. And with referees playing a significant role to ensure that football is played fairly and correctly, this can only result in poorer quality games at all levels. Why the abuse? Players and spectators often engage in abusive behaviour in part due to what’s known as “in-game triggers”. These can be frustrations towards a decision they believe to be unfair – or as a method of externalising their problems in the game. Many people also use interpersonal conflict with the referee in an attempt to influence…

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