I had a conversation with a player of many different sports in my office this AM. He was frustrated at this one particular softball umpire for making quick calls on whether a player was out or safe on a close call. I gave him my reasoning why this umpire may have been doing this. we brought up several sports and reaction time to make the call. I gave him my answer on what sport I felt that you need to make quick decisions on.
So my question to the forum, since I do not do all sports,
What sport do you feel needs the quickest decision to make a call? And Why?

AK ref SE

Tennis...those line judes have to be quick!!

Fencing - for obvious reasons.

Yeah - but they have a nice little machine nowadays.

Vollyball. I don't know why, but if you ever watch a vollyball game, they have the whistle blown and a signal before most people realize the ball has hit the floor.

[Edited by Tim Roden on May 28th, 2003 at 05:56 PM]

That's not what we're taught around here for volleyball. They want us to keep a very measured beat. Ball hits, small pause, whistle, long pause, signal. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Hey, Judes. Don't make it sad. . . ;)

Snail racing.

Does this include Ashley, or is it just Wynona and Naomi?

They're not the Judes, they're the Juggs.

Fastest reflex time is race car drivers.

Smart-*** answer: Jello Wrestling Referee

Serious answer: Hockey Linesman, especially at the professional level. The players move so fast, those offsides calls are tough.

You guys still doing jello wrestling up north? We do creamed corn wrestling down here.

It occurs to me that this is perhaps the only sport where the majority of referees prefer to work the womens matches. ;)

Oh *$#@!!!! I hate it when I mistype things...I meant, of course, that the quickest officials must be the first base umpires in any BoSox game, so they can dodge all those grounders that sneak past the first baseman's legs...:)