Originally posted by Mark
Lots of differing opinions in this thread but one that does need to be looked at...as the subject has been covered more than a couple of times on this board and in print, since when was it assumed that the best teams are the best refs ? Because you can shoot straight and quickly and read a move doesn't mean you can make the quick calls needed. to force a team to ref just to gain series points is flawed, Buddha brought up the Dynasty issue and a few years ago the same thing applied for Bobs Ironmen in the NPPL series, ok nice enough people but not cut out to be refs...the motives to do the job were not to further paintball just to ensure they got the maximum amount of points to ensure their placing within the series event.
This current trend of laying down to ref is bull**** one ref cannot decide who was hit first in that situation, if you are laying down to ensure you won't get hit then bloody well say that, don't wrap it up in crap of getting a better view 'cos lying down you only see one angle, plus a ref lying down will generally give away a move happening IF they actually see it 'cos you can't sutlely (sp?) glance around when laying down...sorry for the sideways rant but it does fit in with the above 'cos it concerns the issue of effective judging
With all respect, Mark, I see it a little differently on your two main points.
I believe that MOST pro players can be trained, instructed and motivated into decent judges. They know what to look out for from experience. They just need to be coached, drilled on consistent knowledge and application of the rules and then become convinced that they will be watched and required to do a good job. I know that this sounds perhaps oversimplistic but I believe that basically it's true.
As for lying down to ref, there are situations that lend themselves to lying down and other situations that don't. I find that lying down at the 60, roughly mid-field, facing the team I want to watch will give me the best vantage point to see if players get hit on the break.
Then I sometimes find that I can best see if balls are coming into the chest/stomach/crouch area of a player best while lying down or mostly low on my knees and concentrating on 3 or 4 players in my zone. I know I'm not there to be lazy; I'm there because experience has told me it's best. If I lie down or crouch because I'm afraid, that's one thing. If I do so to keep out of a firing lane or so that the players on the other side are less likely to see who I'm looking at, that's just professional. If bunkering situations seem imminent then I'm already up on my feet.
The simple truth is: there are no cut and dry positions or stances that are "correct". It has much more to do with attitude and situation. Some zones or group of players are best watched from the sidelines even.
My thoughts.
Steve
