Ranking The Difficulty Of Being A Referee In Different Sports

There are few jobs more thankless than referee. It’s an occupation that requires you to be a brilliant expert yet get treated like a bumbling moron -- and for a pittance compared to those whom you evaluate. Speaking of evaluating, here is where officiating in the biggest sports rank, from “easiest” to hardest.

Ranking The Difficulty Of Being A Referee In Different Sports

There are few jobs more thankless than referee. It’s an occupation that requires you to be a brilliant expert yet get treated like a bumbling moron -- and for a pittance compared to those whom you evaluate. Speaking of evaluating, here is where officiating in the biggest sports rank, from “easiest” to hardest.

11. Volleyball

I’ve been able to sit in a high chair since I was a baby. Once you learn the ins and outs of volleyball, how hard could it possibly be to officiate?

11. Volleyball

I’ve been able to sit in a high chair since I was a baby. Once you learn the ins and outs of volleyball, how hard could it possibly be to officiate?

10. Baseball

The exercise demand is a little greater for a baseball umpire than a volleyball ref, but not by much. The worst part is the hecklers, especially the ones who scream “I'll see you in the parking lot!”

10. Baseball

The exercise demand is a little greater for a baseball umpire than a volleyball ref, but not by much. The worst part is the hecklers, especially the ones who scream “I'll see you in the parking lot!”

9. Cricket

The world’s second most-popular sport carries some pros and cons. For example, as a referee you get to wear an awesome sun hat, but you also have to stand behind the bowler and therefore directly in the line of fire. The risk of getting a ball to the “wickets” puts cricket at a difficulty slightly higher than baseball.

9. Cricket

The world’s second most-popular sport carries some pros and cons. For example, as a referee you get to wear an awesome sun hat, but you also have to stand behind the bowler and therefore directly in the line of fire. The risk of getting a ball to the “wickets” puts cricket at a difficulty slightly higher than baseball.

8. Boxing

You have to bounce around the ring, separate ripped-ruffians and avoid getting punched in the face. And sometimes you do get punched in the face! Staying out of the way but in the action makes boxing a pretty tough sport to survey.

8. Boxing

You have to bounce around the ring, separate ripped-ruffians and avoid getting punched in the face. And sometimes you do get punched in the face! Staying out of the way but in the action makes boxing a pretty tough sport to survey.

7. Mixed Martial Arts

You have to bounce around a ring (or an octagon), separate ripped-ruffians and avoid getting not only punched, but also kicked in the face! MMA edges boxing by a limb.

7. Mixed Martial Arts

You have to bounce around a ring (or an octagon), separate ripped-ruffians and avoid getting not only punched, but also kicked in the face! MMA edges boxing by a limb.

6. Basketball

You run roughly three miles per game, you have to determine the difference between a charge and a block in roughly 42 milliseconds. Also you’re forced to wear lycra with slacks. Talk about a crucible.

6. Basketball

You run roughly three miles per game, you have to determine the difference between a charge and a block in roughly 42 milliseconds. Also you’re forced to wear lycra with slacks. Talk about a crucible.

5. Soccer

Pretty much like basketball, except you run even more and there’s a little more flopping. You have to decipher which players are actors and which are just crybabies. You get to award various color-coded cards but you also need a full security detail in case you blow a call.

5. Soccer

Pretty much like basketball, except you run even more and there’s a little more flopping. You have to decipher which players are actors and which are just crybabies. You get to award various color-coded cards but you also need a full security detail in case you blow a call.

4. Lacrosse

Pretty much the same demands of soccer, yet with a little more contact and a whizzing vulcanized-rubber ball whispering sweet injury into your ear holes.

4. Lacrosse

Pretty much the same demands of soccer, yet with a little more contact and a whizzing vulcanized-rubber ball whispering sweet injury into your ear holes.

3. Football

For the referee it’s not too bad, but for the umpire, it’s like officiating a wildebeest stampede. Put yourself behind the defensive line when Marshawn Lynch decides to go “Beast Mode,” and see if you’re still harassing referees then.

3. Football

For the referee it’s not too bad, but for the umpire, it’s like officiating a wildebeest stampede. Put yourself behind the defensive line when Marshawn Lynch decides to go “Beast Mode,” and see if you’re still harassing referees then.

2. Rugby

Rugby players are nuts and do you really want to find out what goes on in those scrums? To be a better ref, you need to get closer to the call. To get closer to the call, you need to test the limits of your insurance coverage.

2. Rugby

Rugby players are nuts and do you really want to find out what goes on in those scrums? To be a better ref, you need to get closer to the call. To get closer to the call, you need to test the limits of your insurance coverage.

1. Ice Hockey

Flying pucks, flying checks and the players frequently fight each other. Oh yeah, and you have to skate nearly as well as the professionals that get paid much more than you to do so. For a ref, hockey is essentially boxing meets football on ice and it’s not a Disney production.

1. Ice Hockey

Flying pucks, flying checks and the players frequently fight each other. Oh yeah, and you have to skate nearly as well as the professionals that get paid much more than you to do so. For a ref, hockey is essentially boxing meets football on ice and it’s not a Disney production.