reffing
Blowing the whistle
Reffing is serving as a referee—officiating a game or match, making calls, enforcing rules.
The term is informal and common in sports contexts: I spent Saturday reffing youth soccer games.
It can extend to mediating disputes: I'm tired of reffing arguments between my kids.
Shrill air-blown sounder
- umpireSports match official
- linesmanSideline sports official
- arbiterOne who settles disputes
- adjudicatorOne rendering formal decisions
official · timekeeper · scorekeeper · VAR · sideline · flag · signal · crew
Settled course of action
- rulingFormal legal determination
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
objectivity · interpretation · call · review · overturn · dispute · protest · controversy
Offensive or illegal
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- offsideIllegal forward position
- red-cardEjection from match
- yellow-cardOfficial caution in football
handball · caution · ejection · infraction · violation · booking · sending-off · stoppage
Compelling compliance with rules
- controlAuthority to direct
- supervisionOverseeing people or processes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
oversight · discipline · managing · mediating · defusing · conflict-resolution · ejecting · cautioning
whistle
Shrill air-blown sounder
adjudicator · official · timekeeper · scorekeeper · VAR · sideline · flag · signal · crew · panel
decision
Settled course of action
- rulingFormal legal determination
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
fairness · objectivity · interpretation · call · review · overturn · dispute · protest · controversy · consistency
foul
Offensive or illegal
yellow-card · handball · caution · ejection · infraction · violation · booking · sending-off · stoppage · advantage
enforcement
Compelling compliance with rules
- controlAuthority to direct
- supervisionOverseeing people or processes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
command · oversight · discipline · managing · mediating · defusing · conflict-resolution · ejecting · cautioning · intervening
reffingplaying
Participating in recreation
competing · coaching · performing · participating · quarterbacking
refer, referee, reference, ref, referees, referral, refereeing, reffed, referential