Bias in officiating?

**Saulbadguy** · 04-24-2006, 07:22 AM

I always wonder how referees and officials don't have some sort of bias when working. They obviously have knowledge of the game, but how did they acquire that knowledge and start officiating? Probably by growing up watching sports and rooting for their favorite team.

I just wonder how they can do their job without some sort of bias. BTW - check out this video. This is what made me think about this topic.

http://media.putfile.com/Happy-Ref

Dr. Johnny Fever · 04-24-2006, 07:25 AM

I would think they would naturally have some bias... and it always seems to be for whoever the Chiefs are playing.

Amnorix · 04-24-2006, 07:37 AM

Human beings have bias. That's just the way it is. Hopefully, they can ACT objectively despite their bias.

StcChief · 04-24-2006, 08:07 AM

I guess no one pays attention to coaches saying 'Don't get on the wrong side of the ref'

Biased or not you will lose close calls....

I speak from experience as a former baseball umpire

MVChiefFan · 04-24-2006, 08:17 AM

I did some officiating of Junior High and High School football and it really wasn't hard to be fair and honest. I always felt a responsibility. However, I am guilty of letting some things go because a coach was an ass.

**Rain Man** · 04-24-2006, 08:18 AM

You would like to think that the obligations of the job would offset any natural bias. I have situations in my own work where I could be biased in how I do a study, but I'm very careful about not interjecting my own opinions into the process. They probably do the same thing.

**cdcox** · 04-24-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You would like to think that the obligations of the job would offset any natural bias. I have situations in my own work where I could be biased in how I do a study, but I'm very careful about not interjecting my own opinions into the process. They probably do the same thing.

I'm confident that virtually all the officials want to call the game completely fairly. The thing that makes their task much more difficult is that they are making snap decisions. I can normally make an unbiased descision given time to think things through. On a snap decision on a boarderline call, the tendency to favor your bias or to over compensate against your own bias would have a better chance of happening.

I think you have to look at the game differently once you're an official. The day you decide you want to be an offical, I think you have to let the fan in you die. You've decided to remove yourself from the stands or the couch and enter the game. I'm sure they can't be 100% effective at this. I guess if your (former) team won the SB you could allow yourself a brief smile, as long as no one was looking.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 04-24-2006, 08:41 AM

It is impossible not to have some bias. It just is. Whether it is as a ref or a teacher, bias will always creep into the fray in some instance (whether small or large).

04-24-2006, 07:22 AM
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2656966	Bias in officiating? I always wonder how referees and officials don't have some sort of bias when working. They obviously have knowledge of the game, but how did they acquire that knowledge and start officiating? Probably by growing up watching sports and rooting for their favorite team. I just wonder how they can do their job without some sort of bias. BTW - check out this video. This is what made me think about this topic. http://media.putfile.com/Happy-Ref
Posts: 46,965

04-24-2006, 07:25 AM	#2
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	I would think they would naturally have some bias... and it always seems to be for whoever the Chiefs are playing. __________________ courtesy of BoneKrusher "Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business and sometimes a religion." Ernie Harwell
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04-24-2006, 07:37 AM	#3
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Human beings have bias. That's just the way it is. Hopefully, they can ACT objectively despite their bias. __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
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04-24-2006, 08:07 AM	#4
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	I guess no one pays attention to coaches saying 'Don't get on the wrong side of the ref' Biased or not you will lose close calls.... I speak from experience as a former baseball umpire __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
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04-24-2006, 08:17 AM	#5
MVChiefFan Veteran Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Here Casino cash: $1624975	I did some officiating of Junior High and High School football and it really wasn't hard to be fair and honest. I always felt a responsibility. However, I am guilty of letting some things go because a coach was an ass. __________________ I haven’t slept for ten days straight… because that would be way too long.
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04-24-2006, 08:18 AM	#6
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	You would like to think that the obligations of the job would offset any natural bias. I have situations in my own work where I could be biased in how I do a study, but I'm very careful about not interjecting my own opinions into the process. They probably do the same thing. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
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04-24-2006, 08:41 AM	#8
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	It is impossible not to have some bias. It just is. Whether it is as a ref or a teacher, bias will always creep into the fray in some instance (whether small or large). __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
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