Age Limit for referees

[Mr. Savage]

Why can't the NBA implement an age limit for refs ?

It is proven that with age reaction and eye sight as well as overall athleticism decline.

FIFA has an age limit of 45 years for football. The German football (Not american egg football) has a limit of 47 and I am sure other countries pro football leagues also have an age limit in that are around 45 years.

Just imagine if Bennett Salvatore would not have been there in the 2006 finals because of an age limit that would have forced him to step down in 95. Same with Joey Crawford in 96. No Dick Bavetta in the 2002 Kings - Lakers Series.

The only thing that may speak for old refs is experience, but this experience only manifests itself in biases that these guys hold. Young refs tend to call games as they are rather than being biased from knowing certain coaches, players or other individuals associated to a team for many years.

Instead of introducing an age limit for players, the NBA really should introduce a 45 year age limit for refs.

[raps4life~]

Isn't Dick Bavetta like 70? He's one of the better refs IMO.

[Bubstubbler]

There's no age limit for true love

[richboy]

Why can't the NBA implement an age limit for refs ?

It is proven that with age reaction and eye sight as well as overall athleticism decline.

FIFA has an age limit of 45 years for football. The German football (Not american egg football) has a limit of 47 and I am sure other countries pro football leagues also have an age limit in that are around 45 years.

Just imagine if Bennett Salvatore would not have been there in the 2006 finals because of an age limit that would have forced him to step down in 95. Same with Joey Crawford in 96. No Dick Bavetta in the 2002 Kings - Lakers Series.

The only thing that may speak for old refs is experience, but this experience only manifests itself in biases that these guys hold. Young refs tend to call games as they are rather than being biased from knowing certain coaches, players or other individuals associated to a team for many years.

Instead of introducing an age limit for players, the NBA really should introduce a 45 year age limit for refs.

I think age discrimination is against the law in USA.

Your just pointing out a few games. Really some of the older guys are pretty good refs. Some of the worst refs are the young guys.

[UrbanLegendMD]

Yeah let Violet Palmers of the world into the league

[Alyosha12]

Why can't the NBA implement an age limit for refs ?

It is proven that with age reaction and eye sight as well as overall athleticism decline.

FIFA has an age limit of 45 years for football. The German football (Not american egg football) has a limit of 47 and I am sure other countries pro football leagues also have an age limit in that are around 45 years.

Just imagine if Bennett Salvatore would not have been there in the 2006 finals because of an age limit that would have forced him to step down in 95. Same with Joey Crawford in 96. No Dick Bavetta in the 2002 Kings - Lakers Series.

The only thing that may speak for old refs is experience, but this experience only manifests itself in biases that these guys hold. Young refs tend to call games as they are rather than being biased from knowing certain coaches, players or other individuals associated to a team for many years.

Instead of introducing an age limit for players, the NBA really should introduce a 45 year age limit for refs.

I think age discrimination is against the law in USA.

Your just pointing out a few games. Really some of the older guys are pretty good refs. Some of the worst refs are the young guys.

[Neato]

If I understand correctly, the issue isn't about whether it's illegal but rather if you can show a valid reason to exclude older people from being employed as a ref. Yes, there are laws against age discrimination in employment practices if the discrimination is unrelated to the job. If you can show a true job-related reason to institute age-related policies (like in air traffic control), you may have a case. Unfortunately, you need to show in some way that older refs perform poorly at their jobs. I don't think you will find that. Other than that, yeah, we would probably see some lawsuits filed against the NBA.

[Alyosha12]

If I understand correctly, the issue isn't about whether it's illegal but rather if you can show a valid reason to exclude older people from being employed as a ref. Yes, there are laws against age discrimination in employment practices if the discrimination is unrelated to the job. If you can show a true job-related reason to institute age-related policies (like in air traffic control), you may have a case. Unfortunately, you need to show in some way that older refs perform poorly at their jobs. I don't think you will find that. Other than that, yeah, we would probably see some lawsuits filed against the NBA.

Exactly. And as far as finding reasons to institute an age-related policy the NBA could simply copy FIFAs reasons. If it could hold out in front of the European human rights court it could hold up in front of any court.

[Cthulhu]

Absolutely should be. Some of these dinosaurs can't even see, and they have years worth of grudges against certain players, teams, ect.

There was a article with an unnamed player stating how the younger refs were much better.

And Dick Bavetta is an AWFUL ref. Dan Crawford, Salvatorre and Bavetta are absolute cheaters.

[BubbaTee]

I'd have no problem with a rule if you could show that old refs were substantially worse than young refs.

However, from what I've seen young refs are just as capable of blowing calls as the geezers.

[Wiz Khalifa]

I wondered about this too.

[Sofia]

Yeah lets bring in all these inexperienced young refs, there will be nothing to complain about then...

[Last Guardian]

Younger eyes would make sense. But really, the whole system basically needs a makeover. I don't know how it should be done, but I am sure a smart person could figure it out.

Perhaps a genious of some kind could develop robot refs, who are 100% accurate on every call.