Basketball vs Hockey

[HokiePaul]

I only officiate basketball, but the reason I think Basketball is difficult is because decisions have to be made almost immediately with very little time to process what happened as a foul stop play immediately.

I don't think this is true to such an extreme with hockey as a foul doesn't necessarily stop play so you have an extra second or so to process things given that late foul calls are less noticable.

I would think soccer would be one that is hard to officiate, because 1) there is a lot of faking/flopping 2) only 1 official means you often have poor angles, and 3) a lot of judgement utilized in terms of advantage/disadvantage makes it very subjective.

[Danvrapp]

Originally Posted by HokiePaul

...the reason I think Basketball is difficult is because decisions have to be made almost immediately with very little time to process what happened as a foul stop play immediately.

True...but come try to do that on skates

[HokiePaul]

Originally Posted by Danvrapp

True...but come try to do that on skates

yes. for me personally, hockey would be hardest for this reason.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by HokiePaul

yes. for me personally, hockey would be hardest for this reason.

Skates actually make things easier. Think about that for a second...

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by HokiePaul

I would think soccer would be one that is hard to officiate, because 1) there is a lot of faking/flopping 2) only 1 official means you often have poor angles, and 3) a lot of judgement utilized in terms of advantage/disadvantage makes it very subjective.

Soccer generally has three officials -- a referee and two assistant referees. Once you hit a certain level you always have a fourth official, though he helps little with calls on the field -- usually only if something weird happens out of the regular area of play. And in a couple of leagues they add Additional Assistant Referees who primarily help with whether a ball crossed the goal line and fouls in the penalty area. But the referee is the only one with a whistle -- he only takes advice from the others. A wise referee, however, is keenly aware of those situations where his assistants have better angles.

I don't know that soccer really has that much more faking or flopping than basketball -- just higher stakes on each event. I would say that is what is one of the things that makes soccer hard -- because of the nature of scoring, the pressure on individual calls, especially near the goal, is much higher: A potential trip in the penalty area in the opening minutes creates a high stakes event for the referee: a possible PK and almost certain goal along with possibly sending off the defender so that the team plays short the rest of the game that resets how the entire rest of the game will be played or possibly a caution to the attacker who will then have to moderate that players play for a very long time. No early call in basketball will have the same on the entire game.

Nonetheless, soccer is made easier by the nature of the spacing and flow and having relatively fewer decision points -- its just that the ones you have are generally bigger decisions.

And the physical demands are much higher. There is a reason that FIFA referees have a mandatory retirement age at 45 (few could pass the fitness test past 45), while the NBA has elderly gentlemen still able to maintain the necessary fitness. And decision making definitely is harder after running 7 miles with intense focus!

Nonetheless, I found soccer easier and more pleasant. The compactness of basketball and constant decisions, to me, is harder. And I don't get as much exercise.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

Soccer generally has three officials -- a referee and two assistant referees. Once you hit a certain level you always have a fourth official, though he helps little with calls on the field -- usually only if something weird happens out of the regular area of play. And in a couple of leagues they add Additional Assistant Referees who primarily help with whether a ball crossed the goal line and fouls in the penalty area. But the referee is the only one with a whistle -- he only takes advice from the others. A wise referee, however, is keenly aware of those situations where his assistants have better angles.

I don't know that soccer really has that much more faking or flopping than basketball -- just higher stakes on each event. I would say that is what is one of the things that makes soccer hard -- because of the nature of scoring, the pressure on individual calls, especially near the goal, is much higher: A potential trip in the penalty area in the opening minutes creates a high stakes event for the referee: a possible PK and almost certain goal along with possibly sending off the defender so that the team plays short the rest of the game that resets how the entire rest of the game will be played or possibly a caution to the attacker who will then have to moderate that players play for a very long time. No early call in basketball will have the same on the entire game.

Nonetheless, soccer is made easier by the nature of the spacing and flow and having relatively fewer decision points -- its just that the ones you have are generally bigger decisions.

And the physical demands are much higher. There is a reason that FIFA referees have a mandatory retirement age at 45 (few could pass the fitness test past 45), while the NBA has elderly gentlemen still able to maintain the necessary fitness. And decision making definitely is harder after running 7 miles with intense focus!

Nonetheless, I found soccer easier and more pleasant. The compactness of basketball and constant decisions, to me, is harder. And I don't get as much exercise.

I got a red card for flopping. I never got a T for trying to get a call when I played basketball.

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by Dad

I got a red card for flopping. I never got a T for trying to get a call when I played basketball.

If you got a red card for flopping, your referee didn't know the Laws of the Game. A flop can only be a caution for unsporting behavior.

I believe the basketball rule and soccer laws on faking fouls are pretty similar as written. But soccer actually uses its rule -- probably because there is more need to have a sanction because of the more extreme injustice if the referee is fooled. But that also puts more pressure on the referee -- and players keep faking because the potential gain (a PK = almost sure goal) is greater than the likelihood of getting called and the potential sanction. I've seen a T for faking in basketball exactly once -- there was a full foot of space between the defender and the dribbler when he flung himself backwards in agony.

[bainsey]

I do NFHS soccer and basketball, and I agree with much of SCL's sentiments.

There are indeed fewer whistles in soccer, but it makes those calls much more important. One thing I like about soccer is the slower whistles. We are required to "see contact through" before calling the foul. We judge advantage far more so in soccer than in basketball, and honestly, I think basketball should do that more often.

For example, if A-1 handchecks B-2 while B-2 is driving to the basket, we're supposed to whistle a common foul. I've become a bigger believer of seeing the play through, and holding my whistle until the shot is released. To whistle prematurely is do penalize the ball-handler, who might get off a decent shot. I've learned that from soccer, which has a better grasp of advantage, IMO.

Basketball has its advantages in its structure and organization, though. We don't pre-game enough in soccer. We don't discuss enough potential soccer situations, and since as few as one could turn the tide of a game, it should be worth the little time it takes to prepare for it.

I still stay hockey is the toughest. All of us can run (in varying degrees). Not all of us can skate.