RebKell's Junkie Boards

[ClayK]

OK, the reviews in the WNBA (and all major sports, really) are annoying and take way too long ...

But the justifications are twofold:

1) Player safety. It's pretty hard to argue against protecting players, and one of the best ways to do that is to identify and punish dangerous play. Things happen very quickly in basketball, and sometimes off the ball, and officials have to watch for a large number of potential fouls and violations all at the same time.

The concussion issue is not a trivial one, and penalizing plays that can cause concussions is, again, hard to argue against. Such penalties and punishment make players more conscious of, and careful about, contacting an opponent's head.

2) Getting it right. The cacophony of complaints about the officiating in the Phoenix-LA game is echoed at every level of every sport when the refs have a bad game. At the upper levels, there are options available to correct egregious errors, but those options take time and interrupt the flow of the game.

So a decision must be made about balancing the desire to get it right, and the desire to keep the game moving.

All that said, what's the solution? (And no, getting better refs is not a solution unless you can point out who they are and why they're not working in the league now and what it would take to get them to work in the league. And if you have video reviews, they will take time -- even the NFL and NBA, with all their resources, can't do it any quicker.)

Does the league step back from player safety and worry less about concussions?

Is there less concern about getting it right?

It doesn't seem to me that there's an obvious solution here -- or at least a practical one. For example, if WNBA refs were paid $500,000 a season, I'm guessing we'd have better officiating after a while, or if we had a team of video reviewers constantly looking at plays in the previous minute so that if there was a review, they'd already have the answer.

But really, what's the next step? What can realistically be done about the video review issue?

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[Richyyy]

As I've mentioned earlier this season, the first, most basic change, is that you can do the vast majority of these reviews during timeouts and breaks between quarters. Outside of the really egregious stuff, all that any of these plays result in is one bonus free throw. This isn't FIBA basketball where a technical could change possession. So watch the video when we aren't all sitting around waiting for the game to get going again.

Call the game as you see it, rather than going "oh, someone's holding their face, I should stop the game to see what happened", play it out until the next break - then watch the video if you feel it's necessary. Hell, you could have someone checking the tape back at head office while the game's going on, then inform the officials during the next break without them having to do anything. Or during the playoffs, that reserve official who sits at the table doing nothing could also do it.

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Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/

[Rock Hard]

People who follow and support various sports on all levels must accept that refs are human and they do make mistakes. Every fan wants their team to receive justice and fair calls by all refs. Simple fact is refs do not see every violation committed by players. Sports like football and basketball have a high rate speed. Both sports have a high volume of players in close proximity of each other which makes it difficult to see everything.

All fans need to accept that mistakes made by refs are a part of game just like injuries to players.

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[pilight]

[ArtBest23]

Most of these reviewed calls aren't that hard to get right in real time. These clowns use replay as a crutch because they're cowards.

And what purpose was served in the late game last night? They had a ridiculous number of reviews to see if there was a flagrant but didn't call any flagrants that I recall. So what was the point of holding up the game? Certainly not "player safety".

If they'd T up Parker and Taurasi and some others for their gross over-acting, maybe the ridiculous flops would end and they'd have no reason to stop the game to look for something where nothing actually happened.

[Rock Hard]

[Aladyyn]

Just show one replay to Rebecca Lobo and go with whatever she says. She always gets it right

[ucbart]

[justintyme]

[ClayK]

[Bob Lamm]

[Bob Lamm]

[sportsfan48]

This is a great topic. I have been bothered by the level of skill in our officiating crew for a very long time. There are some officials who are fairly good but most cannot officiate to the level of the skill on the floor. That is why you see so much complaining from the more elite players, IMO.

The review process definitely needs to be "reviewed" and revised in the off season. While it provides a good service and is done with the proper idea of "fairness" and protection in mind, it reeks havoc to the flow of the game and the overall entertainment factor. When you have diehard, long time season ticket holders not renewing their tickets because the game is not fun to watch anymore, it is a problem. And the problem is not the "product" or players, it is the process.

My suggestion is to have an other official at each game that does reviews while the game is still going. If a flagrant foul is warranted, it can still be addressed, not as timely, but I am not sure that matters. It can still be addressed in a reasonable time. This other official can review all kinds of plays or just the ones the officials on the floor tell them too. The only time this would be a problem, IMO is if there is a fight on the court. That would require a stop in play.

[Michelle89]

[Brinx]

If they handed out serious fines or Techs for all the flops and acting then that would significantly help the problem. Right now the system rewards people for falling to the ground and holding their face.

I also think more transparency about what the league is doing to try and improve the problems would help. They don't have to necessarily give out a list of mistakes but they could be more open and acknowledge that the refs are reviewing a significant number of common fouls that are disruptive to the game and that they are working on ways to better distinguish what needs to be reviewed and what doesn't.

[bballgrl]

[ArtBest23]

[Shades]

[tfan]

Just get rid of foul shots. More time wasted with that and it would get rid of the intentional fouls at the end of games. And the bench is more of a factor.

[Randy]

My solution to a lot of problems - players whining too much, too many reviews etc. to get a review for any play a player or coach has to ask ref for a review. If the player is right (say should be a foul on other team) the player gets whatever the proper relief is. If the review is not upheld the player requesting gets a foul. If coach requests the player involved gets a foul if the review is not upheld (for ex coach says EDD was fouled but review not upheld then EDD gets a foul). If player or coach whines at ref then ref says do you want a review then if they don't ask for one but contiue to complain they get a T. players will get tired of fouling out and frivolous requests will end.

[tfan]

Penalizing incorrect challenges sounds good, but there shouldn't be a penalty when the review outcome is "inconclusive, the call stands".

They have reviews now in volleyball and one of the announcers in the Texas/Minnesota game (the one who isn't Nell Fortner) said at one point that "you need your players to be honest with you (the coach) and let you know that they really did not touch the ball so it can be challenged". During the game a Texas player was called for hitting the net and vigorously disagreed with the call. The Texas coach challenged, and in the replay she very clearly hit the net. So either she was acting, or in the heat of the moment even the players don't know what they did, or like fans, they see things through biased eyes.

[Aladyyn]

[Michelle89]

Giving players technicals for flopping should solve a lot IMO. If the review shows someone flopping then give them a T right away.

But refs have to also understand that you cant review everything you are not sure off. If you missed a foul then let it go and let them play. You dont have to review everytime a player grimaces or looks a bit hurt.

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[Carol Anne]

[myrtle]

I also like having a person reviewing it other than the officials - either on or off site. Call flopping fouls and have close to zero tolerance for whining and bitching. In my day, only the captain could speak to an official and then only if the official agreed to hear the concern. I think that cut back drastically on the amount of crap.

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If only we’re brave enough to be it.
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