11-05-2007, 10:17 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: George Mason Univesity and NJ
Posts: 191
| Why do we referee?
Maybe there are threads about this in the past, but I couldn't find one. If there is, just post a link and ill leave it alone. 
Otherwise, just in sort of a vague general sense, I am wondering why we referee. I mean, I've been reffing about 2 years and would consider myself a fairly strong referee for how long I've been doing it. But especially lately, my drive to do it has been way down. And I'm just sorta wondering why we all do it. I can go out and have a good day reffing, and come home exhausted and tired and stressed. Or, I can have a bad day reffing, and come home exhausted, tired, stressed, and feeling like everyone thinks im absolutely incompetent.
We put ourselves in a situation where if we're great, no one really says anything, and if we make a few mistakes, everyone yells and screams. I know most adults aren't doing it for the money. Maybe to offset the price of fencing a bit, but that can't be the only reason. So just in a vague sense:
Why do we referee?
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"Sir, didn't I parry"
"You didn't take advantage of his blade enough, so no."
(I guess i should have romanced it a bit more..."
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11-05-2007, 10:20 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,179
| a) because we're masochists
b) because we just love fencing, and this is another way to participate
c) because we love the challenge of getting it right
d) because we're poor grad students, and need to offset the cost of fencing
e) some combination or all of the above | 
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11-05-2007, 10:21 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 8,891
| It's the only chance I have at the Olympics. 
The respect from some pretty cool people is nice too. (That is, senior referees, coaches and fencers) | |
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11-05-2007, 11:10 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near Boston
Posts: 2,604
| Because we think it is worthwhile to see that it is done as well as we can do it.
If we can do it well, it is worthwhile to do it.
We see it done not as well as we think we can do it.
Someone did it for us, so we have an obligation to do it for someone.
The circle doesn't close but it does go around and around.
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When Clinton entered office, oil was $20 a barrel. When George W. entered office, oil was $20 a barrel. Thanks George.
On Jan 22, 2001 it cost 94 cents to buy a Euro, now it costs about $1.50. Thanks again, George.
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11-05-2007, 11:29 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Athos FC ~)---------- San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,136
| It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
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"I don't mind being the smartest man in the world. I just wish it wasn't this one." - Ozymandias
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11-05-2007, 11:31 PM
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#6 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14
| I started to referee because I opened my mouth to complain about the quality of referees in my division, particularly in ROW weapons. Then I had this highly noble  idea that if I was going to complain about the problem, then I should do whatever I could to be part of the solution...
Now I do it because I really enjoy the long hours, low wages and the barrage of eastern European insults flung at the back of my head .
Seriously, though, I do appreciate the chance to learn from top referees, coaches and athletes while taking in some amazing fencing. It helps further my understanding of the sport, and my ability to teach it, as well. | |
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11-05-2007, 11:31 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near Boston
Posts: 2,604
| Quote:
Originally Posted by OROD  It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
. | It's not a dirty job. It is a job to be proud of.
But it is a thankless job.
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When Clinton entered office, oil was $20 a barrel. When George W. entered office, oil was $20 a barrel. Thanks George.
On Jan 22, 2001 it cost 94 cents to buy a Euro, now it costs about $1.50. Thanks again, George.
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11-05-2007, 11:32 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK/Providence, RI
Posts: 323
| Cos otherwise we never get to fence. | |
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11-06-2007, 12:31 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 241
| Quote:
Originally Posted by fencerbill It's not a dirty job. It is a job to be proud of.
But it is a thankless job. | The reward of being allowed to participate in interpreting - and thus indirectly enhancing - beautiful fencing often serves as the needed thanks. (Although when refereeing at a local collegiate meet such thanks are few and far between). Getting paid somewhat to do what I enjoy doesn't hurt either.
Alexander | |
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11-06-2007, 02:28 AM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern England
Posts: 200
| Quote:
Originally Posted by fencerbill Because we think it is worthwhile to see that it is done as well as we can do it.
If we can do it well, it is worthwhile to do it.
We see it done not as well as we think we can do it.
Someone did it for us, so we have an obligation to do it for someone.
The circle doesn't close but it does go around and around. | What he said. | |
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11-06-2007, 02:29 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Japan
Posts: 859
| The thrill of black carding someone is better than sex.
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FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WON'T YOU BUY MY TACTICAL WHEEL!!!???? | |
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11-06-2007, 03:29 AM
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#12 | | Fencing Expert
Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: CA area
Posts: 5,794
| Quote:
Originally Posted by OROD It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
. | Heh, where were you this past weekend?
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=)=///
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11-06-2007, 03:44 AM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Athos FC ~)---------- San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,136
| Quote:
Originally Posted by edew Heh, where were you this past weekend? | I try not to get my hands dirty. 
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"I don't mind being the smartest man in the world. I just wish it wasn't this one." - Ozymandias
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11-06-2007, 08:13 AM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 8,891
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Originally Posted by Grasshopper The thrill of black carding someone is better than sex. | Either your experience is different than most people, or I'm really worried at your relationship skills. | |
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11-06-2007, 08:37 AM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 2,099
| I'm a pretty poor fencer, but a pretty good referee.....getting better all the time too.
The main reason I ref though, is because I love to watch fencing. As referee, I have the best seat in the house to do so.
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Originally Posted by IHateMrPotatohead I can't think of anything to put down there! |  | |
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11-06-2007, 08:42 AM
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#16 | | Fencing Expert
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London
Posts: 2,303
| Because I'm good at it, I enjoy it, and will go further as a referee than as a fencer. | |
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11-06-2007, 08:49 AM
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#17 | | Member
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Sunday River
Posts: 73
| Some people referee because it puts them in a position of power/importance and allows them to exert control over people. I have no doubt that this is near the top of the list of reasons for a great number of mediocre referees. | |
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11-06-2007, 09:56 AM
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#18 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 2,999
| Quote:
Originally Posted by bbower Some people referee because it puts them in a position of power/importance and allows them to exert control over people. I have no doubt that this is near the top of the list of reasons for a great number of mediocre referees. | I hear this a lot. As someone who has worked his way up the ranks, and interacted with a lot of referees, I think the number is FAR fewer than you think.
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"Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado." - Emiliano Zapata
"Layla, you got me on my knees" - Eric Clapton
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11-06-2007, 10:56 AM
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#19 | | Scrub
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami
Posts: 2,100
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Grasshopper The thrill of black carding someone is better than sex. | I think you must be doing one of them wrong. | |
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