Barry Mano, Founder of Referee Magazine and the National Association of Sports Officials, Dies...
RACINE, WI — Barry Mano, who founded Referee magazine and the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), giving sports officials worldwide a platform and a...
Barry Mano
Founder of Referee Magazine and the National Association of Sports Officials, Dies at 82.
Steve Shaw Retiring as NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor, National Coordinator
Steve Shaw, the NCAA secretary-rules editor for football and national coordinator of officials, will retire from both positions, effective Sept. 1.
Your Words Have Ramifications
your words have ramifications. In England, a soccer referee was reportedly forced to quit the Premier League after he allegedly mocked a disabled...
Violet Palmer: The Road to NBA History
OCTOBER 31, 1997. HALLOWEEN. Traditionally the night for uncommon events. The perfect night for Violet Palmer to walk onto the court in Vancouver...
Avoiding In-Season Injuries
By Landon Brandes
In the middle of a season, officials rarely think about injury prevention. But how often has this scenario happened to you?...
High School Swimming & Diving Rule Changes
State high school associations will have the option to change the number of dives performed by participants during a championship meet.
How to Have a Playoff Mentality On and Off the Field
For those lucky enough to be chosen for postseason assignments, it’s a reward for a job well done during the season. But there can be pitfalls. Most...
NFL Competition Committee Approves Rule Changes
The NFL owners approved five rule changes for the 2026 season during the Annual League Meeting.
High School Wrestling Rule Changes
Minimum body fat percentage for females has been raised for the 2026-27 season.
The Big Difference Between ‘Hearing’ and ‘Listening’
There are essentially five reasons why people listen: to gain information, to empathize, to anticipate responding, to make judgments and to enjoy the...
Sideline Officials Cannot Just Wing It
R
eferees have a great deal on their plate. Before the opening kickoff they perform organizational duties, and conduct the pregame meeting and onfield...
Referee Magazine Madness Crowns Its Champion
In celebration of 50 years of publishing, Referee magazine launched Magazine Madness, presented by RefReps, a bracket-style tournament to determine the most iconic...
Barry Mano: Interview from Referee’s 25th Anniversary Issue
“We’ve learned ... Hitting people over the head with a two-by-four doesn’t do anything but knock them out, and then they wake up...
2026 FIFA World Cup to Feature 11 PRO Referees
The World Cup will feature 170 referees from 50 countries, including 11 from PRO.
NFL Referee Clay Martin
Martin is a few months removed from finishing his 11th season in the NFL and eighth as referee and crew chief.
Don Koharski: Growth, Grit and a Life in NHL Officiating
Beloved by his peers on the NHL staff, who refer to the veteran as “Koho” and “Big Ko,” Don Koharski has compiled one...
Hank Nichols: 1936-2026
Nichols’ career spanned two Olympic Games, six NCAA title games and 10 Final Fours.
How to Identify and Address Taunting on the Pitch
How many times have we heard the “sportsmanship” complaint? The conversation usually starts with comments about the fans, coaches, and players and morphs...
Detecting When a Player is Hit by the Pitch
Determining whether a batter was hit by a pitch can sometimes be a challenge for the plate umpire. Sometimes an umpire will have...
Dave Parry: The Best of Both Worlds
When Dave Parry refereed intramural basketball games at Wabash College in the mid 1950's for $1 a game, he recalls, "It paid for...
Rehearse Fundamental Judgments
Officials can develop healthy habits when they rehearse fundamental judgments. Many sports have repeated practices or habits that you can rehearse in preparation...
4 Tips for Talking to Coaches
Talking to coaches is not an exact science; they are as different as anyone else you would encounter in another forum. What works...