Has the quality of referees declined?

[EasyEd]

Saw the technical Paige got for clapping and asking for an "and one". Seemingly, lots of problems with referees in the "W". We've seen some at the college level as well. It seems something should be done to improve the officiating before it becomes as bad at the college level. I'd hate to see the Huskies lose due to poor officiating. What can be done to improve the quality? Non-calls seem to be as bad as some calls they make. Also, consistency seems to be an issue. It seems like off-season is the time for improvement, because I hate to complain during the season because it seems like sour grapes.

 

[Blond D.]

UCONN already lost a big game due to officiating. Iowa vs UCONN in the final four 2024. Nika stole the ball from Clark and Aaliyah set a screen. The ref called it a moving screen. I think we had 4 seconds left and was behind by 2.

But that's past.

I think the advancement of video and how well the games are covered on TV, shows every little thing that we didnt see in years before. Plus some rules have been changed and things that were let go are now called.

 

[SCHuskiedad]

Just when you think the officiating can't get any worse, it does.

 

[Viet Vet]

UCONN already lost a big game due to officiating. Iowa vs UCONN in the final four 2024. Nika stole the ball from Clark and Aaliyah set a screen. The ref called it a moving screen. I think we had 4 seconds left and was behind by 2.

But that's past.

I think the advancement of video and how well the games are covered on TV, shows every little thing that we didnt see in years before. Plus some rules have been changed and things that were let go are now called.

It WAS a moving screen. Takes guts to make that call at the end of the game. UConn alumnus, fan and former ref here.

 

[Cuango]

Have to agree with Viet Vet (thank you for your service). That call was a rare example of a good call. Even though it broke my heart, it was something we rarely see as UConn fans; a disastrously executed play in a pressure situation.
As to the original question, I don’t really know if (and how much) it’s declined but I will say that refereeing across the board (in basketball) is woefully bad. The worst of course, is in the WNBA where it has become essentially a national scandal! However, I feel that it is poor in both the NBA and college bball as well.

 

[Bigboote]

I dunno that it's declined, but the players have improved. So the quality of the officiating hasn't kept up with the quality of the players. Things are happening faster, and most of the officials can't keep up with it.

If the NCAA or the WNBA want the officials to improve they need to pay them better. Ideally, pay each official more per game and increase the number of officials so that each one doesn't need to travel so much. Someone like Maj Forsberg obviously enjoys her job, but she has a full slate of NCAA games, a full slate of WNBA games, plus she does a lot of FIBA games. That's gotta take a toll. If she earned more per game, maybe she could take a month off now or then.

Reducing the number of games could also allow for more training. I'm not one to advocate that normally, butI think it would improve things immensely if the officials had a week or two of ref school before the NCAA and WNBA seasons.

 

[topogigio]

In general, WCBB and WNBA officials are horrendous. There are a few good ones, but they are the exception. I know I will get a lot of heat for the following, but here I go; the women officials are the worst!

 

[HopJim]

In general, WCBB and WNBA officials are horrendous. There are a few good ones, but they are the exception. I know I will get a lot of heat for the following, but here I go; the women officials are the worst!

I used to have dinner with a great group in Mass that by coincidence was made up in part by 4 college level basketball refs. Women's basketball, whether college or pro, all pay less to referee women's games. Guess where the better referees go?

 

[hoopsfan22]

Who could give our beloved Paige a technical?

 

[Zonepress]

imho the officiating in wbb in the games i saw live
improved significantly this past year
lots of young women refs who seemed to have good feel for the game

 

[Huskee11]

I know basketball pretty well and I watch a lot of games. I am oftentimes exasperated by the refereeing, but at the same time I have a great deal of difficulty explaining what is and what is not a foul.

Bill Russell once said that basketball is a contact sport, and that football is a collision sport. But the question is always how much contact is allowed? Does it vary from game to game, or even half to half? Do referees consciously decide to call some games tight and some games loose?

Why is a touch foul called on the perimeter, but full nelsons in the post are ignored? Why do the better players get the benefit of the doubt? Why do the better actors get the benefit of the doubt?

Contributing to the problem is that offenses rely to a great extent on pick and rolls and other plays involving picks, and those are always a problem, many picks are moving to a greater or lesser extent.

Once you allow some contact but not all contact, you introduce an element of subjectivity and judgment that only the best referees can apply well on a regular basis. Add on top of that players who are bigger and more physical, and a game that continues to get faster, and you can see why referees oftentimes get it wrong.

I would like to see the game get less physical and that flagrant foul penalties be increased. But not holding my breath.

 

[Bone Dog]

The funny thing about the technical called on Paige is that in the immediate aftermath several of the Sun players joked with her about it at midcourt, including Marina and Jacy. Nobody ever seems to be angry at Paige — that’s her super power.

 

[hussybulldog]

I dunno that it's declined, but the players have improved. So the quality of the officiating hasn't kept up with the quality of the players. Things are happening faster, and most of the officials can't keep up with it.

If the NCAA or the WNBA want the officials to improve they need to pay them better. Ideally, pay each official more per game and increase the number of officials so that each one doesn't need to travel so much. Someone like Maj Forsberg obviously enjoys her job, but she has a full slate of NCAA games, a full slate of WNBA games, plus she does a lot of FIBA games. That's gotta take a toll. If she earned more per game, maybe she could take a month off now or then.

Reducing the number of games could also allow for more training. I'm not one to advocate that normally, butI think it would improve things immensely if the officials had a week or two of ref school before the NCAA and WNBA seasons.

While at this school, a test ought to be given to them, playing the video from previous season and ask them to make a call… they should only get assignments after they pass the test!

 

[uconnever]

YES!

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Saw the technical Paige got for clapping and asking for an "and one". Seemingly, lots of problems with referees in the "W". We've seen some at the college level as well. It seems something should be done to improve the officiating before it becomes as bad at the college level. I'd hate to see the Huskies lose due to poor officiating. What can be done to improve the quality? Non-calls seem to be as bad as some calls they make. Also, consistency seems to be an issue. It seems like off-season is the time for improvement, because I hate to complain during the season because it seems like sour grapes.

EasyEd- - -As long as I can remember WBB (College and WNBA) refs have been terrible!
IMHO the problem keeps growing because the supervisors of refs in each conference and WNBA are retired refs that worked with the people they have to evaluate!
They're not going to reprimand their buddies, so the "snowball keeps going downhill" getting worse every year!

 

[huskyblooz]

No. More games are televised. Instant replay never shows us good calls. we live in a very negative, cynical society.
If you think you can do better, do it. There is a refereeing shortage all over the country! In every sport. CT HS's are paying good money right now.

 

[Skeets]

Who could give our beloved Paige a technical?

That was perhaps the least offensive thing that I've seen to earn a technical foul. I would keep an eye on that ref for calls made for and against Paige. If she had gotten a second technical for laughing on her way to the bench, that would have iced it. Something could be wrong here...

 

[Skeets]

I know basketball pretty well and I watch a lot of games. I am oftentimes exasperated by the refereeing, but at the same time I have a great deal of difficulty explaining what is and what is not a foul.

Bill Russell once said that basketball is a contact sport, and that football is a collision sport. But the question is always how much contact is allowed? Does it vary from game to game, or even half to half? Do referees consciously decide to call some games tight and some games loose?

Why is a touch foul called on the perimeter, but full nelsons in the post are ignored? Why do the better players get the benefit of the doubt? Why do the better actors get the benefit of the doubt?

Contributing to the problem is that offenses rely to a great extent on pick and rolls and other plays involving picks, and those are always a problem, many picks are moving to a greater or lesser extent.

Once you allow some contact but not all contact, you introduce an element of subjectivity and judgment that only the best referees can apply well on a regular basis. Add on top of that players who are bigger and more physical, and a game that continues to get faster, and you can see why referees oftentimes get it wrong.

I would like to see the game get less physical and that flagrant foul penalties be increased. But not holding my breath.

That's the call that drives me nuts. A clean 3-point shot is released and is 3/4 that way to the basket when the defender touches the fingertips of the shooter and a foul is called. Meanwhile what is going on under the basket would be considered assault out on the street. No foul called.

 

[mordecai]

Yes

 

[cancontent]

That was perhaps the least offensive thing that I've seen to earn a technical foul. I would keep an eye on that ref for calls made for and against Paige. If she had gotten a second technical for laughing on her way to the bench, that would have iced it. Something could be wrong here...

That type of reaction gets a technical more often than you'd think. Similar to when a player slaps the padding on the stanchion in frustration or celebration.

 

[REB1094]

Maybe a hot take. I've seen officiating at a similar level it always has been, but now there's more eyes on it. The fandom has grown so quickly last year and this year, and WNBA discussion on social media is likely at an all time high

Twitter and TikTok are toxic places. More toxic eyes + more toxic discussion (with unnecessary political commentary sprinkled in) = more toxic attitudes. I'm not saying the officiating is good, but I'd say it is just criticized more. Not a bad thing if it's done constructively, but it's not

The AE moving screen was unfortunately a good call. The Paige T was weak

 

[Bone Dog]

No. More games are televised. Instant replay never shows us good calls. we live in a very negative, cynical society.
If you think you can do better, do it. There is a refereeing shortage all over the country! In every sport. CT HS's are paying good money right now.

Being a ref is really hard. Tons of split second decisions and really complex rules to apply. I doubt very much I could do it very well.

The one thing I would hope I could do — and worry I couldn’t — is to whistle only the things I could actually see. This was the bitterest memory I have from high school games, that refs would call things they couldn’t possibly have seen from their position. They might guess right occasionally, but much more often you’d get the proverbial non-contact foul.

And I also think “the moving screen” call against Aaliyah was the right one because subsequent video from an angle not shown during the original telecast revealed how obvious it was. But even so, it took a good deal of guts to blow that whistle at that moment. I compare it in my mind to the non-call in the Baylor game Paige’s freshman year. Carrington passed up a wide open midrange jumper to drive into Liv and Aaliyah. There was clearly some body contact even though their hands got all ball, but the refs didn’t have a great view and also seem to have chosen not to decide the game but to leave it up to the players. Dijonnai’s instructions from Kim seem to have been to create a foul and win the game from the free throw line. The refs were having none of it.

 

[msf22b]

The funny thing about the technical called on Paige is that in the immediate aftermath several of the Sun players joked with her about it at midcourt, including Marina and Jacy. Nobody ever seems to be angry at Paige — that’s her super power.

OT: thinking of that and the increased physicality...
In this game at least...Paige seemed to avoid the extremes
that Caitlin seems to endure every game.

 

[WiseWillie]

UCONN already lost a big game due to officiating. Iowa vs UCONN in the final four 2024. Nika stole the ball from Clark and Aaliyah set a screen. The ref called it a moving screen. I think we had 4 seconds left and was behind by 2.

But that's past.

I think the advancement of video and how well the games are covered on TV, shows every little thing that we didnt see in years before. Plus some rules have been changed and things that were let go are now called.

Yes, somewhat. But the amount of outright holding, moving screens allowed in the W is not getting better. The foul called in the last seconds of the Iowa game when iooked at from the W's officiating perspective is not even close to a foul. There is quite a learning curve for rookies coming into the W to learn as they get held, pushed and shoved while trying to drive to the basket.

Kind of begs the question and I'm sure there will be push back on this so have at it: Is this what the W actually wants (but of course would never state publicly) and the officiating from the top down catch on quickly enough in order to "toughen up" the game to appeal to more male fans?

 

[BobbyJ]

That type of reaction gets a technical more often than you'd think. Similar to when a player slaps the padding on the stanchion in frustration or celebration.

Agreed. Any clapping at, gesturing toward, or magic words will usually get an immediate T.