State By State Independent Contractor Unemployment Resources
State by state, the impact of the recent CARES Act will affect sports officials differently. It is our ultimate goal to provide you...
Behind the Scenes: Super Bowl Saturday 1997
The officials who worked Super Bowl XXXI have earned well-deserved praise from supervisors and fellow officials. Their strong performance was the product of...
Jim Burr: The No-Nonsense Icon of College Basketball Officiating
When it comes to top-notch college basketball refs, few stand as tall as Jim Burr. Sure, some consider him a hard-ass, but there’s...
High School Football Rule Changes
The NFHS Football Rules Committee recommended changes for 2026 which were approved by the Board of Directors.
Super Bowl LX Officiating Crew
Shawn Smith will be the referee. Joining Smith onfield will be Roy Ellison, Eugene Hall, Greg Steed, Dana McKenzie, Julian Mapp, Jason Ledet.
How to Be Consistently Right
Should being consistent be a goal for all officials? The answer is no. Being consistently right is what our goal should be. We always hear from coaches...
End of an Era: Wendelstedt Umpire School After 50 years
After 50 years, the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School is hosting its final graduating class.
Softball Umpire Pregame Preparation: Set Your Crew Up for Success
Pregame preparation is one of the simplest ways softball umpires can improve game management, crew communication and consistency. Here’s what to cover before...
USA Field Hockey Umpire to New Zealand for 3 Nations Tournament
Erika Barbera will be the sole USA umpire representative at this series, which features Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.
Ohio Lawmakers Continue to Push Bill Protecting Officials After Altercation
An increase in verbal and physical attacks on referees is causing fewer people to get into officiating.
Bill McCreary: NHL’s Gold Standard Ice Man
Bill McCreary has a passion for hockey, and it shows. After working three Olympic gold medal games and more Stanley Cup Finals games...
Your Inner Voice Is Part of Your Officiating Crew
Everyone, including officials, must employ self-talk at some point. Is your self-talk positive or negative? Does it enhance or hinder your performance? Does...
NFHS Officials Association Award Recipients
Eight individuals have been selected as the 2026 recipients of national and section awards by the NFHS Officials Association.
Seven Kinds of Hustle
Hustle means different things to different sports officials. Many think of hustle as pure speed, getting from one place to another as fast...
Sacramento Youth Sports Officials Unruly Spectators
Unruly spectators present problems for the game. Why Sacramento youth sports officials still show up.
Kari Seitz: The Most Decorated Referee in U.S. Soccer History
With an unmatched resumé of soccer officiating accomplishments, Kari Seitz retired as the most decorated international referee in U.S. Soccer history. From a...
Locked In: Lessons From a Triple-A Crew
I recently watched a Minor League Baseball crew work a Triple-A game at Coolray Field in Gwinnett, Ga. At that level, you expect...
NBA Resumes Having Referees Wear Headsets
In this phase, referees will wear the earpieces throughout the game, including during live play.
How Officials Can Control Emotions in High-Pressure Moments
Officials often tell me, “I have difficulty managing emotions during high-pressure moments.” I’ll then ask the official to give me some examples of...
NFL Conference Championship Officials
Alex Kemp and Clay Martin are the referees for the Conference Championships.
The Limits of Tolerance
Sports officials encounter differing degrees of behavior while on the job. A zero-tolerance policy is unrealistic, but there are limits to what we...
NFHS, Hawaii Association Joint Resolution
In response to the horrific act of violence that occurred in Hawaii last month following a high school basketball game.
4 NFL Officials Retiring After This Season
Terry Brown, Tom Stephan, Rick Patterson, and Boris Cheek submitted their retirement papers prior to 2025 season.
Bill Kennedy LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2026 Hall of Fame class, including an NBA referee.
NHL Situation Room 2.0
How Sony Hawk-Eye powers centralized officiating, player safety, the league’s next chapter.