<p>“Compared to that, I think rugby is safe- most of the refs I have talked to play the game themselves, I don’t think some of these little league umps can say that.”</p>
<p>Em, in rugby the ref is god. A Good or Bad god of course.</p>
<p>You aren’t allowed to argue or complain. They must be addressed as sir or maam. They can add distance to a penatly after the call. We once committed a violation just outside the other team’s goal line. Our "hooker " started complaining about the call. The ref picked the ball up and started walking towards our goal. When we finally realized what he was doing, he had walked off 80 yards in penalties and the other side now had a scoring opportunity. We pulled our hooker away from the ref and shut him up. Actually rugby’s a sport where you learn to shut up and play pretty quickly. Not alot of trash talking either. Still my favorite sport. </p>
<p>But you are correct, playing experience does help a ref or ump. You see the game differently and are aware of more things away from the ball. A good ref or ump sees situations as they develope and defuses them. Key words during a match defuse alot of potential problems. </p>
<p>Sometimes you can cut a protest off about a call, simply by saying “hey, I did that myself when I played.” I can’t tell how many times it stopped a player cold in mid complaint, followed by a sly smile and dropping back to play.</p>