Make the Most of Your Postmatch Conversation
After finishing a match, what is the next obligation of an official? Should you have a postmatch conference with your team, or should you...
How to Get the Infield Fly Rule Right Every Time
One of the more difficult situations in softball are those involving the infield fly rule. While all the codes agree on when the rule...
Stay Accurate Above the Rim
One of the most difficult areas of the game to officiate is action that occurs above the rim.
At lower levels, the type of athleticism...
Little Things, Big Consequences
Newer umpires sometimes think if they master the rules and mechanics and have good judgment their careers will take a steady upward trajectory. There’s...
Pivot Foot Recognition Is Key to Calling Traveling Correctly
When James Naismith invented basketball in the late 19th century, he was looking for a healthy indoor sport to tough out the Northeastern winters. He wanted something that avoided physical...
8 Pre-Pitch Planning Points Every Softball Umpire Should Know
With each batter and before every pitch, umpires must do some pre-pitch planning. Where do I go on a hit to the outfield? A hit to...
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 the...
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 as...
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 professionalism,...
Back-to-Backs Provide Unique Opportunities
Before I ever called my first basketball foul, I was a young, successful soccer official. The good news was that, at 22, I still...
Inside Look: 2025 CFP Championship Game Officiating Crew
When Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer completed his scoop-and-score after sacking Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers with a little more than two minutes remaining in...
Three Keys to Plate Perfection
Do you sometimes suddenly feel like you’re struggling at the plate? One game, you’re fine, and the next you’re just … off? Take a...
Call With Authority, Not Theatrics
As umpires, we know we must sell our calls — especially the close ones. But how we sell them matters. Over the years, the...
Catcher You Later
By Jon Bible
A long-standing topic of debate in baseball circles is how we should relate to catchers. There are several schools of thought.
I’ve heard...
Captains’ Meetings That Matter
A basketball captains meeting plays a critical role in setting expectations and building respect before the game ever begins.
So much time is spent teaching...
Volleyball Referee Stand Safety: Prevent Disaster With Standard Checks
Volleyball referee stand safety must be part of every prematch routine to ensure a secure officiating environment.
Referees have a tough job. They have to...
Appreciating Every Game
It's easy to get caught up in chasing the next assignment, the next postseason opportunity, the next rung on the ladder. But every now...
Setting the Tone
So much time is spent teaching young officials about rules knowledge, game management, proper mechanics, court coverage and the like. Heck, there are some...
Big-Small Match-up Awareness
The ballhandler dribbles up the court and, as the lead official, you are working to find the best possible position along the endline to officiate the play. Some...
Do You Take The Easy Way Out?
The officiating culture can be brutal. An easy way out of a tough situation might seem like a good idea sometimes. After all, certain officials...
Police the Pile
How does the runner usually react when he’s been tackled? The norm in college and pro football is that runners lay patiently after they...
You’ve Got the Look: Why Basketball Officials’ Appearance Matters
By Tim Sloan
It’s well known among the basketball crowd that, “You can’t teach tall.” You can train players to dribble, shoot, pass and guard,...
Five Ways to Enhance the Volleyball Officiating Experience
By Michael Flowers
When people think of volleyball referees, they often imagine someone simply blowing a whistle and calling faults. Volleyball is no different in...
Think A-Head
Athletes in many sports that involve contact, either against opponents, teammates or with the ground/floor, are susceptible to concussions, a brain injury that interferes...