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Time For Referees To Explain Their Decisions

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I know that all sports are different, and hurling is probably too fast a game for it, but in many sports as the game is enfolding the ref is up with the play and communicating to the players about what is going on. Rugby is a great example for this. Would this not be possible to do in Gaelic football also? Just explain to the player why the decision was given against him/her instead of just assuming why... Let the player who is penalized be the first to know why, and not his captain/trainer/manager/Anthony Daly or Joe Brolly. Over here we'd never have a player question the umpire/ref. We're far too professional for that. That would be plain disrespectful. But, it is the not knowing that seems to have these Cork/Waterford personnel quite annoyed, to put it mildly: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835840.html foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1941 - 24/03/2022 13:56:37 2406849 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "I know that all sports are different, and hurling is probably too fast a game for it, but in many sports as the game is enfolding the ref is up with the play and communicating to the players about what is going on. Rugby is a great example for this. Would this not be possible to do in Gaelic football also? Just explain to the player why the decision was given against him/her instead of just assuming why... Let the player who is penalized be the first to know why, and not his captain/trainer/manager/Anthony Daly or Joe Brolly. Over here we'd never have a player question the umpire/ref. We're far too professional for that. That would be plain disrespectful. But, it is the not knowing that seems to have these Cork/Waterford personnel quite annoyed, to put it mildly: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835840.html" They could try and take a leaf out of rugby referees book and referee more proactively. Let both teams know prematch what they'll be very vigilant on and from the start of the game warn players about infringements that aren't serious, up to awarding free kicks without dishing out cards too early. Rugby refs will encourage players to stay within the rules, stay onside, release the ball quicker when they go to ground. Rugby is more stop start and slower play most times than football or hurling so it's easier to implement that kind of refereeing. The captains are the only players that should talk to rugby refs too. But it encourages respect for referees and from referees to player and helps players improve. Definitely for now referees should have to explain their decisions. It's a difficult job to referee any sport but an explanation and maybe an apology if mistakes are made could help promote fair play. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7384 - 24/03/2022 14:40:42 2406860 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "I know that all sports are different, and hurling is probably too fast a game for it, but in many sports as the game is enfolding the ref is up with the play and communicating to the players about what is going on. Rugby is a great example for this. Would this not be possible to do in Gaelic football also? Just explain to the player why the decision was given against him/her instead of just assuming why... Let the player who is penalized be the first to know why, and not his captain/trainer/manager/Anthony Daly or Joe Brolly. Over here we'd never have a player question the umpire/ref. We're far too professional for that. That would be plain disrespectful. But, it is the not knowing that seems to have these Cork/Waterford personnel quite annoyed, to put it mildly: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835840.html" I believe the word you should have used is "unfolding". Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1747 - 24/03/2022 14:45:54 2406862 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "I know that all sports are different, and hurling is probably too fast a game for it, but in many sports as the game is enfolding the ref is up with the play and communicating to the players about what is going on. Rugby is a great example for this. Would this not be possible to do in Gaelic football also? Just explain to the player why the decision was given against him/her instead of just assuming why... Let the player who is penalized be the first to know why, and not his captain/trainer/manager/Anthony Daly or Joe Brolly. Over here we'd never have a player question the umpire/ref. We're far too professional for that. That would be plain disrespectful. But, it is the not knowing that seems to have these Cork/Waterford personnel quite annoyed, to put it mildly: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835840.html" His team are down to 13 at the interval and he goes looking for the referee! Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 24/03/2022 15:43:52 2406874 Link
Replying To Galway9801: "I believe the word you should have used is "unfolding"." Thank you. I stand corrected. However, I did have the Galway hurlers in mind while jotting my lines, and their lippy-mouthed ways towards referees. Thus with them in mind, 'enfolding' rather 'unfolding' was what I put down. For example, "the perennial enfolding display of the Galway hurlers ensued." But thank you for pointing out my otherwise…simple typo. foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1941 - 24/03/2022 16:01:58 2406883 Link
If a referee makes a big decision then it's only good manners to explain to the player exactly why he's doing this. Theyre not God. They have a right to be answerable to someone. Its really getting players backs up in games that's already niggly. border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 24/03/2022 17:02:28 2406909 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "I know that all sports are different, and hurling is probably too fast a game for it, but in many sports as the game is enfolding the ref is up with the play and communicating to the players about what is going on. Rugby is a great example for this. Would this not be possible to do in Gaelic football also? Just explain to the player why the decision was given against him/her instead of just assuming why... Let the player who is penalized be the first to know why, and not his captain/trainer/manager/Anthony Daly or Joe Brolly. Over here we'd never have a player question the umpire/ref. We're far too professional for that. That would be plain disrespectful. But, it is the not knowing that seems to have these Cork/Waterford personnel quite annoyed, to put it mildly: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835840.html" I'm assuming when you say 'over here' players don't question the ref, you're referring to GAA in the US only. Because in other US sports there are plenty examples of refs getting it in the ear from players. The NBA in particular has had plenty incidents of players giving abuse to refs. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2059 - 24/03/2022 19:35:18 2406935 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "I know that all sports are different, and hurling is probably too fast a game for it, but in many sports as the game is enfolding the ref is up with the play and communicating to the players about what is going on. Rugby is a great example for this. Would this not be possible to do in Gaelic football also? Just explain to the player why the decision was given against him/her instead of just assuming why... Let the player who is penalized be the first to know why, and not his captain/trainer/manager/Anthony Daly or Joe Brolly. Over here we'd never have a player question the umpire/ref. We're far too professional for that. That would be plain disrespectful. But, it is the not knowing that seems to have these Cork/Waterford personnel quite annoyed, to put it mildly: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40835840.html" I thought you were a baseball fan Mr Young? Players get ejected from some game or another nearly every night in MLB. Managers too. See less of it in NFL ok and not sure about Hockey or Basketball. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12155 - 24/03/2022 21:24:25 2406944 Link
Replying To border Gael: "If a referee makes a big decision then it's only good manners to explain to the player exactly why he's doing this. Theyre not God. They have a right to be answerable to someone. Its really getting players backs up in games that's already niggly." Jesus do you want to end up like Rugby were the ref is the centre of attention and at each stoppage of play they have a cup of tea and biscuits and chat away? witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 25/03/2022 08:09:21 2406950 Link
Jesus do you want to end up like Rugby were the ref is the centre of attention and at each stoppage of play they have a cup of tea and biscuits and chat away? witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1603 - 25/03/2022 08:09:21 You dont watch much if any rugby if thats what you think happens They could try and take a leaf out of rugby referees book and referee more proactively. Let both teams know prematch what they'll be very vigilant on and from the start of the game warn players about infringements that aren't serious, up to awarding free kicks without dishing out cards too early. Rugby refs will encourage players to stay within the rules, stay onside, release the ball quicker when they go to ground. Rugby is more stop start and slower play most times than football or hurling so it's easier to implement that kind of refereeing. The captains are the only players that should talk to rugby refs too. But it encourages respect for referees and from referees to player and helps players improve. Definitely for now referees should have to explain their decisions. It's a difficult job to referee any sport but an explanation and maybe an apology if mistakes are made could help promote fair play. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 6425 - 24/03/2022 14:40:42 Maybe it would work but refs need more training first of all KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3517 - 25/03/2022 12:32:19 2407015 Link
All joking aside I do think it's a good idea. Refs being interviewed after the game, perhaps explaining their decisions and maybe apologising for one or two they got wrong would show a human side to them that's missing now, and maybe make fans relate to them a bit more. While we're at it, does anyone know the reason why refs are prevented from doing interviews after a game? Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1747 - 25/03/2022 12:47:43 2407018 Link
Replying To Viking66: "I thought you were a baseball fan Mr Young? Players get ejected from some game or another nearly every night in MLB. Managers too. See less of it in NFL ok and not sure about Hockey or Basketball." Given that we have tens of thousands of baseball games played in so many states all across the country every night of the week, of course, you're going to have a few ejections, as you call them. It's in the 99.73% of players who are not sanctioned for foul play in baseball (the greatest game of all). Actually, the stats of players being sanctioned are far higher in NFL, if you'd care to take the time to check it out. That 'you' might see less of it counts for nothing. Draw up the real statistics, and then go to Speaksavers. foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1941 - 25/03/2022 13:47:13 2407031 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "Given that we have tens of thousands of baseball games played in so many states all across the country every night of the week, of course, you're going to have a few ejections, as you call them. It's in the 99.73% of players who are not sanctioned for foul play in baseball (the greatest game of all). Actually, the stats of players being sanctioned are far higher in NFL, if you'd care to take the time to check it out. That 'you' might see less of it counts for nothing. Draw up the real statistics, and then go to Speaksavers." You said the professional game. By that I took you to mean MLB, TripleA, DoubleA etc. There are numerous lads getting ejected for giving umpires abuse as you admit yourself in this post. So no need for me to go to Speaksavers wherever that is. In the post I was answering you implied that professionals didnt give umpires abuse at all. So as usual you were talking **. Baseball is certainly a good game, I've been watching it for 40 odd years, but it's far too slow to be considered the greatest game of all. Viking66 (Wexford)** - Posts: 12155 - 25/03/2022 14:22:09 2407039 Link
Replying To Ban: "His team are down to 13 at the interval and he goes looking for the referee!" Ban I was not there but believe he went and knocked on the ref dressing room at half time and asked to speak to him. He had two players red carded at that stage while one of his players in his opinion had his head nearly taken off and a yellow given. Honestly don't know the merit of any of these opinions. Now there were other Waterford officials later who showered abuse at the ref and one got sent to the stand. However maybe the ref should have given him an explanation and it would have defused the situation. Fitzgerald probably would not like the explanation but peace might have broken out. Fitzgerald was also told the ref would speak to him after the game and then refused. It seems to me the officials got into the war of words and had anger also judging by their actions. They should be a calming effect. Later this was confirmed to me by a friend at the game. The Waterford mentors on the line like every game you go to voiced their protest to the decisions and the officials engaged them. Now the GAA has sususpended people all over the place based on the report of an angry non willing to communicate official which you can be sure is biased. We will put these no hopers in their place and no one will raise an eyebrow. I believe the rules are the rules and have no problem with there application. Communication is not a rule but should be in the job description. This is a young Waterford football team finishing at the bottom of the table and the only thing this will do is drive them away from playing. While Waterford may not put as much into football as hurling but have always treated the game seriously. There was not a huge gap in the monies spent last year. In reality do you think Ephie Fitzgerald a man who has been involved at the highest level would go off the head about a game that had nothing at stake for him other than trying to progress him team? Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2672 - 25/03/2022 14:36:31 2407046 Link
Replying To Viking66: "You said the professional game. By that I took you to mean MLB, TripleA, DoubleA etc. There are numerous lads getting ejected for giving umpires abuse as you admit yourself in this post. So no need for me to go to Speaksavers wherever that is. In the post I was answering you implied that professionals didnt give umpires abuse at all. So as usual you were talking **. Baseball is certainly a good game, I've been watching it for 40 odd years, but it's far too slow to be considered the greatest game of all." The NBA also has plenty incidents of players giving abuse to referees. NBA coaches are even worse for it. The quote from the poster that it 'never' happens in US sports is complete nonsense. WanPintWin (Galway)** - Posts: 2059 - 25/03/2022 14:43:35 2407049 Link
So the ref told lies Canuck? Why? Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1512 - 25/03/2022 15:03:21 2407059 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "The NBA also has plenty incidents of players giving abuse to referees. NBA coaches are even worse for it. The quote from the poster that it 'never' happens in US sports is complete nonsense." Like alot of his posts wanpintwin. I suspect hes AG in disguise! Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12155 - 25/03/2022 15:08:42 2407061 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "So the ref told lies Canuck? Why?" So Ephie Fitzgerald told lies about knocking on the door ? Why ? The ref said he barged In. Someone is telling lies. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2672 - 25/03/2022 15:23:20 2407069 Link
Replying To witnof: "Jesus do you want to end up like Rugby were the ref is the centre of attention and at each stoppage of play they have a cup of tea and biscuits and chat away?" Horrible delays completing a huge volume of the scrums too. Scotland took a lead in Croke Park some years back, and whiled away the last 25mins setting & resetting scrums. From the infrequent occasion that I watch rugby these days. I see that this problem has gotten even worse. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3490 - 25/03/2022 16:35:19 2407082 Link
Great idea to have refs publicly explain their decisions immediately after the game. A Colliseum type thumbs up or thumbs down by the fans could then take place, thumbs up & they get to referee again, thumbs down & it could be self flagellation in the middle of the pitch, followed by being bundled into the boot of a car to referee matches in Wicklow for the rest of their careers. moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 25/03/2022 18:01:27 2407090 Link