Originally Posted by DeanH
View Post
When the player is in the balls all the ref has to do is step back from the table adjacent to the black spot and keep still until the black has been potted. Then it's only two steps to the pocket and two steps back to the black spot and it can be done before the player has got down for the next red or even before the cue ball has stopped moving.
The ref should be able to read the break as it happens and when position dictates up for pink or blue he/she should see that and stand accordingly.
It seems a ref is judged good or bad only on how fast they can walk behind the player and on repositioning balls after a foul and miss and not whether they keep up with the player at the table. Let's face it if you've potted a colour and are down for the next red you don't need the ref walking past you in order to stand behind you again, movement in your eyeline is a killer in this game, and how refs are expected to see very fine kisses on balls on or not on when so far away is beyond me.
I saw a ref the other week standing behind a player, pink and black left, when he had cue ball on the baulk cushion attempting a very fine snick on the pink which was just sticking out from behind the black on its spot, she must have been fifteen feet away and looking over the players head.
Maybe the players should have a little form to fill in after each match and tick boxes about the refs performance, even if that happened the 'did the ref keep you waiting' box wouldn't be on it I fear.
Leave a comment: