What is the most difficult officiating role in professional sports?

[hoosierdoc]

I'm on the treadmill watching US Open tennis. These guys are hitting the ball 115+ mph on serves and the line judge is able to yell fault before the ball gets to the player. That is some impressive observation, interpretation into action timing.

If you're wrong they have thermal cameras and instant replay to challenge your ruling with. That's my opinion for most difficult officiating role. What says INGO?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Shot clock timer in baseball.

 

[chezuki]

I'm on the treadmill watching US Open tennis. These guys are hitting the ball 115+ mph on serves an

The abrupt ending of this posts leads me to believe you've had another treadmill accident.

 

[hoosierdoc]

The abrupt ending of this posts leads me to believe you've had another treadmill accident.

Hah, not yet. Walking at 3.2 between mile runs. Iphone did that annoying one character at a time thing.

though your post reminds me of the cave drawing in Monty python's Holy Grail

 

[MCgrease08]

Yeah sitting in a life guard chair under an umbrella watching two dudes play ping pong while standing on the table must be a real grind.

The toughest sport to ref is definitely hockey. It's fast paced. Sticks, pucks and elbows are flying at your face. You can't turn your back to the play. You must avoid getting crunched along the boards. There is no way to get off the playing surface since it's walled in. Oh yeah, and you have to ice skate the whole time. It's no contest.

 

[atvdave]

The other day Andy Murray was serving at 127 MPH...

 

[CathyInBlue]

Chess referee

 

[atvdave]

#1 seed just went down....

 

[hoosierdoc]

Hockey seems to have very subjective rules though and a ton of violations aren't called. Makes it much easier. Decisions can be made in a second or two rather than instantly.

 

[Doug]

INGO Moderator during a Glock/1911 exchange.

 

[poppy]

Gotta go with MC on this one. Sticks, pucks(which are frozen) elbows and knives on feet make it ruff for hockey refs.

 

[MCgrease08]

Hockey seems to have very subjective rules though and a ton of violations aren't called. Makes it much easier. Decisions can be made in a second or two rather than instantly.

In tennis they only have one job, to call whether the ball is in or out. Even with the ball moving fast, it's not all that hard.

 

[forgop]

Yeah sitting in a life guard chair under an umbrella watching two dudes play ping pong while standing on the table must be a real grind.

The toughest sport to ref is definitely hockey. It's fast paced. Sticks, pucks and elbows are flying at your face. You can't turn your back to the play. You must avoid getting crunched along the boards. There is no way to get off the playing surface since it's walled in. Oh yeah, and you have to ice skate the whole time. It's no contest.

This

The general public has little appreciation for the skill and speed required to play in the NHL.