Why do we basketball refs talk more

[FrankHtown]

I think it is very self-serving to be of the opinion other officials are not as passionate about moving up in their respective sports. I know for a fact the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) is very active in recruiting and training referees on a local and national level. They conduct physical fitness testing of their referees, even at the local level, and your ranking is directly impacted by those results. If your one of the "good old boys" but can't meet or exceed the phyical testing, you cannot move up, and can, in fact, move down. It is an honor to be assigned to do a World Cup or Olympic Game, similar to being appointed to officiate basketball in the Olympics, the Pan-Am games, or Final Four.