Crowd influence on refs

[Persianevo2]

I saw this article on cnn http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/02/05/moskowitz.wertheim.super.bowl/index.html?hpt=T2

Here is an excerpt:
 Crowd support could make a difference. For all the myths in sports that can be unpacked, for all the conventional wisdom that is unwise, here's a truism that's true: The home team wins more often. This is the case across sports. This has been the case for decades. In 44 out of the 45 NFL seasons, home teams won more than half the games played.

True, the elimination of the Cowboys meant that, technically, this Super Bowl would be played on a "neutral" field. But that doesn't mean fan support is evenly split. Five years ago that the Steelers faced the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, held in Detroit, a five-hour drive from Pittsburgh; a considerably further distance from the Pacific Northwest.

With demonstrably more rabid fans in the stands, the Pittsburgh players were, perhaps, bolstered by the support. But we think the real differencev -- and, indeed the real cause of home advantage -- was the effect of those partisans on the officiating. Pittsburgh was cited for three penalties totaling 20 yards; Seattle was cited for seven penalties (several highly controversial) and docked 70 yards.

Again, this stands to reason. Psychology finds that social influence is a powerful force, affecting human behavior and decisions, often without subjects themselves aware of it. Psychologists call this influence "conformity" because it causes the subject's opinion to conform to a group's opinion.

Officials are asked to make split-second decisions. One call will earn them the approval of a large group. The other will earn disapproval. Pittsburgh and Green Bay are virtually equidistant from Dallas. But early in the game, pay heed to which team's fans are louder--especially when they react to officials' calls.

.... I know this is about the NFL and I am sure there are other articles out there about homecourt advantage. However, this does indicate that noise level can indeed have an impact on the refs. Keep it in mind when you are at a game! 

[Celtics4ever]

Any ref that makes a call based on pleasing the crowd should be banned from sports forever.  I hate make up calls too.  I rather see them swallow their whistle than make a bad make up call.  I am sure there are Refs that play off the crowd but that is pretty bush league and they ought to be filtered out.  The ones I don't like are the one who think that think they are the reason folks watch the games.  Only their mothers come to see the refs.  The rest of us want to watch a fairly called game.

That article doesn't prove jack.   Home winning has very little to do with refs.  I didn't see any definite proof other than the winning stat.   In basketball knowing a court's dead spots, backboard tension and rim tightness really help a shooter.  Likewise, in football knowing the bad spots on a field can help you as well.  Knowing where the light are going to drill you or how the wind blows can make a difference too in football especially for QBs and kickers.

Most people like to be rooted for.  Its help their psyche and confidence on the court.   A few really thrive on getting rooted against as it gets their goat and they want to make the crowd pay.  But most are in the former camp. 

While its nice to pretend the crowd can affect a game.  No shot ever went in or missed from group telekinesis of the crowd.  The only way they can affect a game is noise.  They disrupt with noise.  Weaker minded players can be intimidated at the foul line with noise.   Noise can disrupt a huddle.   But this group mind control of ref stuff is nonsense.   I did not see empirical data on the home team getting more calls which ought to be easy to find with some research.   Whether this would translate to an advantage would be up to the players if their made their foul shots or the like.  Again a wild variable into the equation and one that is not predictable.

They usually don't make controversial calls late in the game anyways.   It doesn't matter if its home or away this to be be avoided as per the old adage "let the player's decide the outcome."   Unless of course, its Sterno's refs helping the Lakers vs. the Celtics.

[Redz]

more so in baseball 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-S-eeInJVk

[BballTim]

  They did a study in England a few years back where they put some soccer referees in front of a tv and showed them a bunch of plays, then did the same thing with the volume on the tv turned off. The crowd noise affected the calls of the refs.

[celtics2]

Wow this is the biggest find since fire or the wheel. Home team fans influence refs. Imagine that. EXCEPT IN BOSTON.

[celtics2]

Wow this is the biggest find since fire or the wheel. Home team fans influence refs. Imagine that. EXCEPT IN BOSTON.

[mgent]

Why doesn't this work at the Garden?