Elite officiating tough for women to crack

[26 Year Gap]

How are they doing in the female announcer department?

[jTheUmp]

Elite officiating is tough for EVERYBODY to crack.

[Andy]

I understand the article was writen about the major professional leagues, but it is my observations that women are being given a lot of officiating opportunities at the major college level, but mostly in the women's sports.

In the three sports that I have been associated with, (basketball, volleyball, and softball) it seems that female officials get an opportunity due to their gender. I'm not saying that they are not good or even great officials, but only that they get an opportunity because they are female.

I don't want this to sound sexist or bitter, because I really don't feel that way. It is what it is. Just pointing out that there is whole lot more to officiating than just the major professional sports leagues.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Andy

I don't want this to sound sexist or bitter, because I really don't feel that way. It is what it is. Just pointing out that there is whole lot more to officiating than just the major professional sports leagues.

Ask yourself how many major professional leagues are women's sports? And even the ones that are professional sports, I am sure there are not many opportunities to stay at that level. I know I watched the Women's World Cup and I did not see a single man working those games. Basketball might have the longest run with the WNBA, and many of those officials are women. I have over the years gone to many D1 camps and I did not see a single woman in attendance. Now maybe they are not being encouraged, but I do not see anyone even try to crack that level. That is why you have to look deeper than numbers of who is at those levels.

Peace

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Andy

In the three sports that I have been associated with, (basketball, volleyball, and softball) it seems that female officials get an opportunity due to their gender. I'm not saying that they are not good or even great officials, but only that they get an opportunity because they are female.

It exists in FIFA/USSF officiating. The man who taught my initial class said that policies allow women to move up faster than men. You may not like it, but that's the way it is. (Cue Bruce Hornsby.)

Aside to Juggling: Great link.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by bainsey

It exists in FIFA/USSF officiating.

FIFA's policy for the Women's World Cup Finals is to use only female referees.
So the bias goes both ways. The men are completely shut out of the highest level of women's soccer.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

FIFA's policy for the Women's World Cup Finals is to use only female referees.
So the bias goes both ways. The men are completely shut out of the highest level of women's soccer.

Yet such a policy in the reverse would be headline news.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Yet such a policy in the reverse would be headline news.

I'm quite sure there are many, many more elite high level soccer leagues that men play in than women so I doubt it is a hinderance to male officials.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bainsey

It exists in FIFA/USSF officiating. The man who taught my initial class said that policies allow women to move up faster than men. You may not like it, but that's the way it is. (Cue Bruce Hornsby.)
...

I can actually do that. He is a regular attendee at local scholastic and AAU basketball games. He played D3 ball and his son has a D1 scholarship.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I can actually do that. He is a regular attendee at local scholastic and AAU basketball games. He played D3 ball and his son has a D1 scholarship.

Yes but does hehave 'The Range'?

[canuckrefguy]

These women should move to Canada, where female officials - even ones who haven't done a full season of junior college - are being promoted to top level university leagues. This is despite there being more qualified, more experienced male officials (of the same age) available. It's a joke.