I know usually experienced referees will be assigned for semifinals and finals, but lots of mis-whistling for the group games: this is why the topic mentions regular games and hopefully better referee can be selected from audience, to promoted right calls ——- only if better referees can fundamentally promote right play and better WP players in a long run
My best referee in recent tournaments (SailorCup + Quicksilver) goes to this gentleman: sharp eye and instant whistling with feel of authority and he also educated explains to the audience why he made some calls.
this is a great thread and if someone has the courage, you can ask the desk at the end of the game for the name of the ref just so we can highlight them even more!
Not a terrible idea, @cbarrot . I would like to know that I’m right before I grumble about a non-call or when my favorite players engage in (or are tagged by) the occasional aggressive play that will more and more be a part of their lives as they move up from HS and 19u ball.
I actually listened in on a referee course they had online, during Covid and I actually learned a lot about, fouls, exclusions, 5 meters, “advantage rule” that is actually written in the rules but not really used, and why it’s not.
The one thing that the main refferee, giving the class, mentioned that stuck with me, is that if the game was called/whistled, exactly per the written rules, then on every single time down the pool, there would either be an offensive foul called or a defensive exclusion that would need to be called, and there would be absolutely no flow to the game and no players left at the end.
This is something he was mentioning to "all the parents’ listening in on this class, before we get all up in arms, during games, about something being or not being called in a game, and we start yelling at the reffs.
@cbarrot i did not listen last year but totally agree with that assessment
i think it shines a light on how the real problem are not the ref’s who are human and want to promote a sense of “flow” to the game. The rules are too rigid and almost impossible to enforce with only two officials
Dr. Loren Bertocci (NCAA, FINA-certified referee, first National Referee Chair for USA Water Polo, and Technical Director for the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) a couple of decades ago famously called the game as it is written in the rule book(s) after years of hearing complaints from coaches (and probably fans). I didn’t witness it, but I’ve been told it resulted in many, MANY exclusions and the game was an absolute mess as it didn’t resemble what everyone considered to be “water polo.” Loren made his point well, but it came at great cost to him professionally if I remember correctly. He was also instrumental in trying to be the first to get all referees in the US calling as close to the same game as possible through his “Water Polo Academy” via his online instruction paradigm.. Rest in peace, Loren.
I hear one of them is a former professional ref and knows all things.