Shorten Your Learning Curve
As a young or newer referee works to master the art of officiating, she or he soon finds out that, while the rules are...
Don’t Leave Your Coin Toss to Chance
The coin toss is the first visible and formal chance to make everyone comfortable the game will be fairly administered.
Associations and other authorities have...
The Art and Science of Sanctioning Bad Behavior
Deciding when to issue a card during a match is a delicate balance of art and science. Some situations require immediate action, while others...
Skokie to the Super Bowl: Jerry Markbreit
Walking Away
Jerry Markbreit doesn't know what he's going to do next.
He does know that when the 1998 NFL football season ends, he'll walk off...
Things No Official Has Ever Accomplished
There are a few things that no official has ever accomplished. By fully understanding the following feats cannot be accomplished, officials will gain a better understanding of how to...
Discretion Available For Dangerous Play
T
he prohibition against engaging in play that is dangerous or likely to cause injury to oneself or an opponent has been a part of...
Jim Garman: The Best Umpire in College Baseball
Relying on faith and family, Jim Garman has found success throughout his life. In umpiring, he has 50 NCAA postseason assignments, including eight trips...
1966 World Cup: The Wembley Debacle That Gave Soccer Its Card System
The World Cup provided one of soccer’s most historic matches on July 23, 1966. Both teams were unbeaten after three preliminary rounds as England...
Before the Booth: Dean Blandino’s Rise as Football’s Replay Authority
Dean Blandino used an understanding of technology and the NFL’s philosophy of instant replay to rise from an intern with no officiating experience in...
Anticipation Takes Hesitation Out of the Equation
Many times only the offense knows what will happen after the snap. Communication from the sidelines or a brilliant idea from a player on...
Solid Stance: Gerry Davis Profile
The honor hardly could be more fitting.
OK, perhaps having a behind-the-plate stance named after you — as Gerry Davis does — isn’t technically an...
Ball Placement – The Art & Science
Because it has to be done on nearly every play, ball placement is one of the most important elements of officiating a football game.
My experience is that it’s...
Progression of Responsibilities Helps Simplify Rulings
This past summer I had the opportunity to attend an evaluation camp for umpires looking to advance their collegiate careers. The camp schedule called...
A Sharp Signal Speaks Volumes
Every official knows the feeling — a buzzer-beater sails through the net, the crowd erupts but before the shot was released the buzzer went...
Slap-Hitters and Bunters Force You To Think Outside The Box
With first base only 60 feet away from home plate in softball compared to 90 in baseball, the left-handed slap hit is a major...
Blurred Lines: The Ins and Outs of Court Boundaries
Volleyball officials are ruled by lines. The majority of our calls are centered on whether volleyballs are in or out, and many of those...
Not All Double Plays Are Created Equal
Some umpires are unabashed about their love of double plays; they do serve to shorten the inning. Double plays can occur in a variety...
Timeout Talk: When Officials Should Huddle
In most sports, teams are allotted a specific number of timeouts so coaches may confer with players. Although timeouts may also be used in...
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 umpires do...
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 tasks...
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 into...
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 to...
Proper Three-Person Rotations Rely on Science and Art
As more states and officials’ associations transition to three-person mechanics, lead officials need to become more active and recognize when to rotate ball side.
Gone are the days of...
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...