Questions from an Outsider

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bossman72

Thanks for the replies!

See, the "one guy in charge" concept just seems silly to me (goes for soccer too). Wouldn't it be much easier to officiate everything if all 2, 3, or 4 guys were working together as a team like the other sports? That would be like a basketball game with 2 referees just there to call out of bounds and back-court violations and 1 guy in the middle calling all the fouls.

Also, that makes sense for the whistles. I can see a lanyard getting caught on a stick or something and I kind of assumed the pea whistles were because the fox 40's were too loud, but I figured I would ask.

Another observation - maybe it's the football guy in me but I like the referees getting mic'd up to announce penalties. However, in the games I've been to, the audio has been terrible and you can barely hear them or the organist would be playing over top of their voice. I like the idea, they just need to refine their process.

I think it works well the way it's done.

I went to an NHL game yesterday. The linesmen have a lot to do -- ruling on offsides on just about every possession (every time the puck crosses a blue line, essentially). They do assist the referees and are responsible for too many men penalties and for assisting for match/major penalties, as described above.

Soccer's the same way. One center official, very big field. Assistant referees are there to assist the center official and perform very specific duties.