are Euro refs better

[Intheno]

On a serious note. Why do brit and Euro refs have the reputation for being better judges than the US guys?
Is it because they take more pride in the execution of thier duties?
Is it because they have a more consistent approach due to the fact they don't know the majority of the teams and show no favoritism?
Is it because they are not involved with the league so they do not have an incentive to see some teams do better than others?
Is it because they don't have the overwhelming desire to appear cool, so much so that it is actually uncool and 'newbiesque' to run around doing the job they are paid for?
is it just perception?
Or is it because Euro's evolved into better refs?

Or all of the above? (or none of it)

 

[ascutt]

Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
and....er......yes


Simple really!

 

[Wadidiz]

Originally posted by Intheno
Why do brit and Euro refs have the reputation for being better judges than the US guys?

The World Cups of the past have probably done more than anything else to contribute to the perception that American refs are terrible. Why? Because everyone over there wants to play the World Cup. That leaves the kids and whoever else they can find. If you have inexperienced, untrained refs they are going to have a tendency to stay out of the action, avoid getting hit and avoid conflicts. It also takes less energy to not get into the game.(Fortunately the current leadership of PSP have taken measures to turn things around regarding reffing and the quality has gone up tremendously thanks to smarts and money spent.)

There are some awesome American refs. I learned to ref from traveling around reffing for our sponsor in Southeastern US with a top amateur team who were experts at cheating. And from reffing with Ground Zero at the World Cup. Team Strange did an outstanding job when it was time for them to do their reffing duties in the Nations Cup series.

At the first Huntington Beach the Americans on the field with those of us who were imported from Sweden were not really up-to-date but willing to learn and improve. By the end of that tournament the Americans were pulling at least their share and doing a great job.

Originally posted by Intheno
Is it because they take more pride in the execution of thier duties?

A gross generalization is that Brits, Scandinavians, Germans, Finns, Russian Legion, some Americans and some French take pride in their reffing work. Again very gross generalizations.

Originally posted by Intheno
Is it because they have a more consistent approach due to the fact they don't know the majority of the teams and show no favoritism?

It helps in those circumstances.

Originally posted by Intheno
Is it because they are not involved with the league so they do not have an incentive to see some teams do better than others?

That always helps too.

Originally posted by Intheno
Is it because they don't have the overwhelming desire to appear cool, so much so that it is actually uncool and 'newbiesque' to run around doing the job they are paid for?

Maybe I tend to reproduce myself in those crazy enough to work with me.

Originally posted by Intheno
is it just perception?

Partly.

Originally posted by Intheno
Or is it because Euro's evolved into better refs?

Quality breeds quality.

Originally posted by Intheno
Or all of the above? (or none of it)

Yeah.

 

[WKD]

I guess thats a yes then

 

[Russell Smith]

Originally posted by Intheno
On a serious note. Why do brit and Euro refs have the reputation for being better judges than the US guys?
Is it because they take more pride in the execution of thier duties?
Is it because they have a more consistent approach due to the fact they don't know the majority of the teams and show no favoritism?
Is it because they are not involved with the league so they do not have an incentive to see some teams do better than others?
Is it because they don't have the overwhelming desire to appear cool, so much so that it is actually uncool and 'newbiesque' to run around doing the job they are paid for?
is it just perception?
Or is it because Euro's evolved into better refs?

Or all of the above? (or none of it)

I would love to say that the reply needed here is yes to all the points raised however that would be a mistake.
If you take the last world cup the Euro/UK Refs had been hand picked and as such only the best on offer went across.
And because of that their pride and proffesionalism in what was required of them shone thru.
I know a quite a few Yanks who are very good at reffing, but you need to have ten of them on the field or they just appear ****e with the rest of dross used.
The problem as I see it is everyone wants to play and they only ref to get money so they can play next time.
A lot of guys reffed the five man at the WC so they could afford to play the X ball.
Believe me if you got 100 refs from any country you would end up with the same amount of quality from any of them.
The UK refs are different in that I have already sorted out the crap and kept only the guys I think can do the job well.
Steve Morris is trying to do the same sort of thing himself and I am sure he would agree with what I have said.
There are some difference's in reffing even at the top end.
Steve like's his guys to lay down on the floor to get under the ball so they can get a better view.
I completely disagree with that and if one of my guys gets on the floor, he will not come again.
But that is just small stuff and now I have said it I am sure Steve will start a new thread in the pros and cons of lying down.

So in reply to your points,

Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No




Russell

 

[Intheno]

interesting, but some great points. So you woudl say that the standard of reffing in general is the same, but by cherry picking the refs that travel you 'create the illusion' that Euro-refs are superior?

 

[alt01]

Over the past season I've noticed the Euro/Brit NPPL refs to be, on average, better than ours from the US. This may be due to only the better crews traveling over just for reffing, but regardless they certainly raised the bar. Many seem to have a different style of reffing as well, several times I took an obvious hit which a ref saw and instead of running in to pull me instantly they waited to see if I would pull myself or play on and get the 1 for 1.

 

[Bolter]

we spend so much time watching the yanks win everything that we have the time to brush up on reffing skills?

 

[BOOGIE]

Hmmm are we talking as a group or individuales??? I feel that there are good judges in all nations.The ones who treat it as a job and try to do the best they can are the best judges be they from UK Euro USA or where ever they come from.

BOOGIE NXL EXL Referee

 

[Russell Smith]

Originally posted by Intheno
interesting, but some great points. So you woudl say that the standard of reffing in general is the same, but by cherry picking the refs that travel you 'create the illusion' that Euro-refs are superior?

That is just my point, Since we dont come over with the average quality of ref the illusion will be that we are all great refs, I so wish that was true.
But rest assured anybody who is picked for the UK Refs will be part of the UK elite as far as reffing is concerned and will try their best at any game they are involved in.



Russell