Referee eyeing up shots

[Jorgslaa]

Hi all. This might seem like a silly question but hear me out (I'm new here but have abeen a snooker fan since I was six - 32 years).

Why do the referees insist on looking at certain potential shots, eyeing them up as if they're about to attempt themselves? It really bugs me as their curiosity could lead to doubt in a players mind as to whether a shot is on, or not. For example in the latter few frames or KW v DJ on Wednesday evening I saw the referee, crouching down, one eye closed, looking to see if Kyren had a clear attempt of a shot, whether pottable or if he was snoookered. This shouldn't matter to the referee unless it follows a foul by the last player to take a shot. I feel like the referee should be impartial to all shots but these actions could potentially influence a player's decision

Another aspect to the above is that this viewing position taken by the referee appears to get in the way of both players that want to check if the shot is on, furthermore, the spectators- who should be allowed a clear view where possible - not decided by the referee thinking that he/she needs to have a good look.

There might be an obvious answer which would put my mind at rest but it frustrates me more and more now that I've noticed it!

[mikee]

If the shot looks difficult or its a snooker ,or a potential free ball and the player misses and the balls needs to be replaced ,the ref needs to check beforehand to get a good idea of where the ball positions were ,he can then use the monitor and second ref to just fettle it around to get the exact position .

[DeanH]

The referee is noting where the cue ball (and any other balls of interest, but mostly the cue ball) are so if a Miss occurs they can replace the balls.
To do this they use a number of memorable features, alignment to other balls, points on cushions (point can hit, points can not hit).
Also judging if a free ball is an option.
Also judging whether the ball on can be hit full-ball so if necessary the Three-Miss and loss of frame could be a factor.
All of the above needs to be accessed by the referee BEFORE the stroke has happened.
I have never seen a referee "get in the way" of the player to do all of the above, but have often seen a player let the referee get a real good look.

All players are used to this behaviour and many even assist the referee by giving them time to have a clear look, some do not

I am sure if you really watch the referees you will see they are constantly watching the table and ball positions and also the player's likely movements and do their checks when possible to NOT affect the player's focus. Nest time you are playing with friends, you try to be the referee properly, it really can be an exhausting exercise for the mental focus required

As to the referee getting in the way of the crowd, sorry but the ref has a job to do, but if you really have a look, the referee is also trained to consider the crowd and try not to be in one place too long.
The crowd also have TV monitors on the lighting gantry above the table which they can use to see the action, probably from a better angle than from where they are sitting, you will often see the audience looking upwards, this is what they are doing

[Jorgslaa]

Thank you Mikee and DeanH. Really useful answers and makes perect sense especially when many balls are disrupted and need replacing afater a miss. I think whilst I have been watching snooker a lot more recently and the camera angles are enhanced, you see a lot more of the referee actions, much less of the plain old overhead table view. I won't let these referee actions annoy me again! 😁

Fair enough re the crowd view and the ref being aware of this - I haven't been to watch live snooker since about 1993, in the Bournemouth BIC! I hope to go again someday soon.

[Nifty50]

Should really make use of available technology IMO. The ref has a hard job watching out for fouls, counting the score, clicking his button thingy, remembering the position of balls etc. Anything to assist is got too be good.

[fkhan]

Yeah, I think we definitely need better tech for these ball replacements. With so much money being invested in the pro tour, getting an accurate piece of software should not be impossible.

[vmax]

All that's really needed is for the ref to use his ball marker to remove the cue ball from the table, make a small mark with a chalk pencil on the cloth and then replace the cue ball in the correct place every time. Of course this cannot be done for every ball but most of the time it's the cue ball that needs replacing.
And why can't the referee at the table be able to see the tv monitor and a still picture of where all the balls were before the miss rather than the left a bit, right a bit, your way a bit, over there a bit fiasco we get at the moment.

[DeanH]

And why can't the referee at the table be able to see the tv monitor and a still picture of where all the balls were before the miss rather than the left a bit, right a bit, your way a bit, over there a bit fiasco we get at the moment.

They have tried this twice:
(1) I recall they trialled a system at the Welsh some years ago, where the monitor that shows the Scores changed to the table view and the referee could see it for themselves from the table. I don't know what happened to this since. Probably money, as I was once told that having this system at an event costs a lot of money! and this is "by event" not for the whole season more often than not.
(2) The best I have seen, and if you remember, was the Chinese version where the balls on screen where ringed with colour and flashing circles and changed when in the correct place. OK we probably have not seen it for a while because there has not been any Chinese events Also probably not used across the whole season due to cost!

Also why doesn't the referee organisation have a set of commands that everyone uses and everyone understands to enable quick replacement?

[fkhan]

I think a ball replacement tech sponsor should be eyed next.

[cueman]

Being a referee whilst not easy, they are certainly not being helped or using aids and tech in order to make the job easier.

I know not every event is it possible to have tech to aid, outside tables, qualifiers etc, but snooker is being left behind yet again in comparison to other sports.

Interestingly they have mentioned the 25th anniversary this week of Ronnie's fastest 147. What struck me, is how people recognise that the over complicating role now of refs make a break like that impossible today, due to the deliberate slowing down of the game by refs.