I found this to be a really fun video. Former NFL Wide Receiver (and potential Hall of Famer) Steve Smith Sr. learned how NFL officials do their job during training camp. A few interesting take aways were how much pre-snap communication NFL refs have and how they study practice film afterwards. I also found it interesting that a former NFL player is now an NFL side judge.
Enjoyed that quite a bit. Especially his bit about learning how hard the refereeing is and how much responsibility has to be juggled by an official. That was quite an admission for a player. It also interestingly highlights that former players from that level may have some attributes in reading the play and understanding the players that non-NFL player refs might have, but also some of the pitfalls that they get into as well and why the pro refs are the pro refs (little things like... stop the clock because he wasn't touched that is easy to overlook as a casual observer/untrained eye, even if you played).
I cannot imagine how hard it is the referee in the nfl. For my money by far the most difficult sport on the planet to referee from the physicality speed and number of players. The only thing that may be harder is balls and strikes.
Maybe... but I think water polo looks hard. Maybe that's because I don't know what I'm watching, but it looks cool. How to call underwater fouls though...
Back in the early '50's, University of San Francisco had an undefeated football season. They were invited to the Cotton Bowl, but they were told to leave their black players behind. The team voted unanimously not to go. Three of the black players on that team are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one as a referee. I'm not sure, but he may have been the first black referee in the NFL. The school dropped football the next year. I believe they have shirts now that say "University of San Francisco football. Undefeated since 1953." (I apologize in advance if I got the year wrong.)