Listening to a referees commands

[HBK-aholic]

When watching Rugby League on Sky Sports, you're able to hear everything the referee is saying. This makes me enjoy watching it a lot more and makes me understand the referees decisions. For example, if a player is penalised for 'holding down' in a tackle, you might think what's going on? But if the referee has shouted 'held' twice, and you've heard that you can understand where they're coming from.

It also helps in situations with the video referee - you know what has been asked for checking, so you're automatically looking out for it yourself. Do you think this would make a difference to your favourite sport? Would you want to be able to hear it?

 

[Hip2bsquare]

We have had the ability to hear the umps on broadcats for a while in the AFL. Intially I thought it was a good idea. There are always passages of play where the umpires pay a free kick leaving you thinking 'wtf?'. Hearing the umpires meant that you could hear their interpretation and at least try to understand what they were doing. But then to me I became more frustrated with the decisions being made even when the umpires explianed it.

Hearing them scream 'play on play on play on' For five minutesis beyond annoying. I think umpires shouldnt really be seen or heard. The best games of football are the ones where you dont notice the umpires. When they have mics and numbers on their backs its hard not to.