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A Little Officiating Magic

The Magician’s Oath is to never reveal the secrets of magic to non-magicians. Nonetheless, there are various “tricks” officials can use to call a game properly. Magic can...

Hold(er) Everything

When thinking of players associated with the kicking game, the usual focus is on those who kick the ball and team R players attempting...

Team Control Is A Moving Target

When the basketball is loose, and opponents are fighting to gain control, officials are taxed to determine team control. The difficulty often comes from the unexpected — abnormalities...

Second Referees Need Training Too

Very early in my officiating career, I received a call to officiate a local collegiate match. My partner was someone I had not worked with previously. While I thought...

Discreet Signals and Teamwork To Get Out of Hairy Situations

The duties of the first and second referees are delineated in the rulebook. In the best of cases, this division of duties ensures that, between them, the referees...

Video Tips for Working as the Referee with Legendary White Hat Jerry Markbreit

Jerry Markbreit is one of the most well known and respected sports officials in the world. Not just in the football community but across...

Don’t Talk To My Kids!

"Don't Talk To My Kids!" Ever heard that shouted from the sideline? Coaches don’t want officials coaching their players. They do want officials to help their...

Refereeing Gives Skills For Your Lifetime

Through the 27 years and 2,300 games of my officiating career, I've accumulated insights, notions and generalizations I didn’t have before which I can trace back...

Keep-It-Flying Approach Is Challenging

One of the biggest areas of concern during a match for coaches and referees is ballhandling. Ballhandling decisions can make or break a match. In recent years, volleyball...

Rare Rulings Well Done

No one has ever attempted to rank fouls in the order of the difficulty in calling them. However, it’s clear there is a pecking...

Zone of Verticality Comes With Its Own Set of Challenges

A meeting this past season of the Wisconsin Basketball Officials Association (WBOA) saw a lively discussion break out regarding arm positioning as part of...

Obstruction Deduction

Umpires are tasked with making thousands of split-second decisions over the course of their careers. Some of those calls are obvious, while others aren’t...

Solving the Two-Call Conundrum

Does anybody remember the old days when basketball was a non-contact sport and most fouls were easily identified and called? I can hear you...

Close Plays at the Net Present Challenges

During the course of a volleyball match, referees make many decisions. These decisions fall into two categories: 1) violations of a rule, or 2)...

Optimal Crew Positioning on Free Kicks

F ree kicks from just outside the penalty area can determine the outcome of a game. They can be so critical that teams have multiple...

Coach Communication Done Well

Communication between officials and coaches is extremely important and is an essential element of a properly officiated game. Most coaches identify good communication as...

On Your Mark, Get Set … Stay There

Recently, I came across a couple of film clips taken from major league games played decades ago. In one, an umpire called a tag...

Keep it between us

Some unseen things that go on before, during and after a softball game would really surprise the casual or even rabid fan. First is the...

A Quarrelling Quandary

"B lue, where was that?” If you have not heard this question at least a hundred times, you’re probably still in your first year as an...

Official/Player Communication Influences Conduct

Trying to manage a football game would be nearly impossible without effective and pointed communication. Although managing players is primarily the responsibility of the coaching staff, officials can facilitate the...