What is the difference between an umpire and a referee?

Answer 1

Generally, an umpire is a judge of events during a match, and a referee is an arbiter of rules and of disputes. Historically, umpires were match officials tasked with assertively making calls during a match, such as fouls and misconduct, and keeping the official record of scoring and other match details. This term was used almost exclusively prior to the invention of the referee.

The term "referee" was invented by the people who first codified soccer in the late 1800s. Before referees, the team captains would agree on points of the game, such as whether a foul was committed and what should happen. In these times before global competition was a thing and billions of dollars were on the line, the system worked well, because "gentlemanly conduct" (now known as sportsmanship) was more important than the final score.

As the game became increasingly popular and competitive within England, someone would be nominated to settle disagreements between the captains. Thus, the referee was a neutral person who was "referred to" when necessary, but otherwise sat off the field and took no part in the match. Over time, this person became involved more and more often, and was eventually given a proactive role on the field to manage the game.

Sports such as English Cricket and Baseball still use umpires to manage the games. Many younger sports, such as Basketball and hockey, use the newer term of referee. Other sports, such as tennis, have judges or other officials that use neither of these terms.

American ("Gridiron") Football, as played in the NFL, utilize a pantheon of judges (back judge, line judge, etc), an umpire, and a referee. The umpire and judges make calls as they see them, and give their advice to the referee. The referee, in addition to making these same sorts of calls, takes on the additional "arbiter" role by finalizing decisions, reviewing plays, managing the clock, and a host of other duties.

Generally, in modern sport, the terms "referee" and "umpire" are usually interchangeable, and are used based on the rules of the particular game.

Answer 2

Generally, an umpire is a judge of events during a match, and a referee is an arbiter of rules and of disputes. Historically, umpires were match officials tasked with assertively making calls during a match, such as fouls and misconduct, and keeping the official record of scoring and other match details. This term was used almost exclusively prior to the invention of the referee.

The term "referee" was invented by the people who first codified soccer in the late 1800s. Before referees, the team captains would agree on points of the game, such as whether a foul was committed and what should happen. In these times before global competition was a thing and billions of dollars were on the line, the system worked well, because "gentlemanly conduct" (now known as sportsmanship) was more important than the final score.

As the game became increasingly popular and competitive within England, someone would be nominated to settle disagreements between the captains. Thus, the referee was a neutral person who was "referred to" when necessary, but otherwise sat off the field and took no part in the match. Over time, this person became involved more and more often, and was eventually given a proactive role on the field to manage the game.

Sports such as English Cricket and Baseball still use umpires to manage the games. Many younger sports, such as Basketball and hockey, use the newer term of referee. Other sports, such as tennis, have judges or other officials that use neither of these terms.

American ("Gridiron") Football, as played in the NFL, utilize a pantheon of judges (back judge, line judge, etc), an umpire, and a referee. The umpire and judges make calls as they see them, and give their advice to the referee. The referee, in addition to making these same sorts of calls, takes on the additional "arbiter" role by finalizing decisions, reviewing plays, managing the clock, and a host of other duties.

Generally, in modern sport, the terms "referee" and "umpire" are usually interchangeable, and are used based on the rules of the particular game.