Elite officiating tough for women to crack

[APG]

Must be a slow day at the four letter network...still might be an interesting read for some.

Calling the Shots -- Officially unbalanced - espnW

[JugglingReferee]

It's simply trying to plant a misogyny seed where it doesn't exist. Bad journalism. I bet Jane is a bleeding-heart liberal with links to feminism.

[Raymond]

What does bad journalism have to do with being a liberal or a feminist?

[Rich]

My God, the comments are made by a bunch of Neanderthals.

The same ESPNW did a similar article about baseball umpires:

Calling the Shots -- Women are striking out in MLB - espnW

They must have a hard time finding things to write about. I've probably tripled their clicks this month by reading these two articles myself.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

What does bad journalism have to do with being a liberal or a feminist?

And now that I have actually read the article, what's so horrible about it? Just speaks about women's attempts to break into the upper echelons of officiating men's sports. Most of the story is quotes from people involved in sports. The only critical voice is that of Billie Jean King.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

My God, the comments are made by a bunch of Neanderthals.

The same ESPNW did a similar article about baseball umpires:

Calling the Shots -- Women are striking out in MLB - espnW

They must have a hard time finding things to write about. I've probably tripled their clicks this month by reading these two articles myself.

They are doing a series this week: NBA, Soccer, Hockey, NFL the rest of the week.

[JRutledge]

I have no problem with the subject being explored, but like a lot of things they probably are missing the boat on the reality of the profession of officiating. Women do not get into sports officiating the same way men do and do not explore getting into officiating at the higher levels. I only know of one woman in my area that officiates football for example and she is not on the track to even explore higher level football at this time. That is less than what you see in basketball for example as it relates to women. I do believe there is discrimination in officiating against women, but it is not the way this article tried to portray the situation.

Peace

[bainsey]

The only way to truly have gender equality is to stop considering gender altogether.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by bainsey

The only way to truly have gender equality is to stop considering gender altogether.

Bingo. Along the same lines, Morgan Freeman said it best: ‪Morgan freeman solves the race problem.‬‏ - YouTube

[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.