HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

We need 2 referees

(Oldest Posts First)

You need to Login to Post

A lot of talk these days about what the referee does or does not see during the game. I put it to you all that the pitch is too big and the players too fit for the majority of referees to keep up. And that is just football, hurling is even harder. There should be 2 referees, one in each half and linked to each other by radio (earpieces). It would eliminate a lot of the off the ball instances too if the ball is on the opposite half of the field players will be less likely to go at each other if there is a ref in both halfs. In hurling it is nigh impossible for a single ref to keep up with play, I cannot understand why they have not done this yet. Look at American football, there must be about 6 refs on the field at one time. Dubfan Abroad (Dublin) - Posts: 282 - 20/09/2017 19:21:58 2048726 Link
Replying To Dubfan Abroad: "A lot of talk these days about what the referee does or does not see during the game. I put it to you all that the pitch is too big and the players too fit for the majority of referees to keep up. And that is just football, hurling is even harder. There should be 2 referees, one in each half and linked to each other by radio (earpieces). It would eliminate a lot of the off the ball instances too if the ball is on the opposite half of the field players will be less likely to go at each other if there is a ref in both halfs. In hurling it is nigh impossible for a single ref to keep up with play, I cannot understand why they have not done this yet. Look at American football, there must be about 6 refs on the field at one time." There are 7 in-game officials plus a sideline officials for intercounty games plus Hawkeye in some cases. There's no need for another one. Needs to be better communication between umpires, linesemen and referees. I think umpires need to be more involved as an extra set of eyes when play is on the end line on their side of the goal. The other umpire can watch for goalmouth incidents. American football has just one referee, with linesmen, umpires, I think for different parts of the field? They also have a TMO. Maybe we could look at how they get more good calls by different communications and decision making than is happening in GAA? GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7325 - 20/09/2017 19:38:03 2048740 Link
It's getting to that stage isn't it. So many games now are decided by refereeing errors and I am not sure you can blame the officials, although some are definitely better than others. The EPL is the same, every player on the pitch is cheating and diving, yet each weekend referees are lacerated by pundits and fans who have the benefit of video replays from every angle imaginable. It's an impossible job. I'm a big NFL fan and have always been impressed with the way its officiated, although to be fair it's a multi billion dollar sport that has fully embraced technology, and is a natural stop start game making it easier to review plays etc. Rugby is similar, with mostly excellent officiating. A second ref in football could work for a lot of the off the ball stuff. Every team is at it now and it's really taking from the game. GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 20/09/2017 19:51:02 2048749 Link
Just empower the umpires. The umpires witnessed a lot of pulling and dragging from both teams, right in front of them at the weekend. Cillian O'Connor decked Johnny Cooper right in front of the umpires and pointed without so much as a whisper. What function do they serve? Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 20/09/2017 20:13:07 2048762 Link
Replying To GreenandRed: "There are 7 in-game officials plus a sideline officials for intercounty games plus Hawkeye in some cases. There's no need for another one. Needs to be better communication between umpires, linesemen and referees. I think umpires need to be more involved as an extra set of eyes when play is on the end line on their side of the goal. The other umpire can watch for goalmouth incidents. American football has just one referee, with linesmen, umpires, I think for different parts of the field? They also have a TMO. Maybe we could look at how they get more good calls by different communications and decision making than is happening in GAA?" No, I don't favour umpires getting more power, these lads are mainly family members, friends and the likes, certain things yes they should just say as they see. I think linesmen, who at intercounty refs, should have more power and should be able to make calls similar to to having 2 refs on the pitch but keeping current structure in place. tipp11 (Tipperary) - Posts: 353 - 20/09/2017 20:35:12 2048771 Link
7 officials at a game. No need for 2 referees. thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1731 - 20/09/2017 20:59:02 2048785 Link
No need really, if umpires and linesmen done their job that would stop the nonsense off the ball but the ref has to take a lot of flack, for example on too many occasions in the final the ref let fouls go unpunished by awarding advantage, now a small pull or push you don't mind but if the same player keeps at it then he is getting away from a booking, this rubbish of letting the game flow is bull, a foul is a foul and if it deserves a ticking or booking then so be it, it's the players that keep this constant fouling going and it's the ref that's letting it go unpunished. I can point to 2 incidents in the first half where Mayo won frees in the backs Dublin players deliberately prevented the frees being taken quickly so ref brought the ball forward 13 metres but the Dublin player kept blocking or tangling up with the free taker, ref let it go twice, a simple ticking would have stopped that, both sides were cynical at times and ref let it go, he has to take his share of the blame, wasn't a good game by him riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 20/09/2017 22:12:11 2048808 Link
Replying To tipp11: "No, I don't favour umpires getting more power, these lads are mainly family members, friends and the likes, certain things yes they should just say as they see. I think linesmen, who at intercounty refs, should have more power and should be able to make calls similar to to having 2 refs on the pitch but keeping current structure in place." Is that your way of saying that umpires are less than fit ? Go on Tipp11, you can say it! GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7325 - 20/09/2017 23:05:49 2048830 Link
I think more umpires need to start opening their eyes a bit more and start getting involved more in decision making, especially when it comes to a lot of off the ball carry on while Ref is up far end of the pitch. Its time that all umpires at intercounty are qualified referees , same as the linesman. Its not good enough in this day and age for them just to be mates with the referee. I've been saying this for years now, it would help out the referee a hell of a lot. Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1895 - 20/09/2017 23:13:10 2048831 Link
I posted this on the same subject but different tread. why not give the linesmen the same powers as they do in soccer. Let the linesmen make calls for fouls at the minute they can only report off the ball stuff. therefore you would have 3 referees but 1 main ref. no need for 2 or 3 refs in the middle of the field when you already have 2 on the sidelines. I think it should be tested in the pre season games next season and if successful introduce it for the championship the following year. I know as a referee there are things missed not done on purpose but if you have help from the sideline it would make it easier to referee and it would also cut out the nonsense that is going on lately which is ruining the games mrsme (USA) - Posts: 172 - 21/09/2017 18:59:31 2049124 Link