Similarities Between Fishing and Soccer Officiating
On the surface, the title of this article seems to be rather confusing. However, individuals who arbitrate the rules/Laws of soccer on a regular...
Foul That’s Over the Top
Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump with one or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is contacting the...
An Inside Job
O
ne of the toughest jobs for a softball umpire is ruling on inside pitches. There is a lot happening at once and there are...
Safety Glasses
The opening kickoff sails over the goalline. The ball is muffed in flight by the receiver and rolls away. The ball is recovered and...
Your Toughest call?
What do you call when a runner jumps over an infield grounder as a fielder goes for the ball? Usually that play occurs when...
Old Acts, New Rulings
The NCAA has again adjusted its obstruction rule, reduced the illegal pitch penalty, adopted three experimental speed-up rules from last fall and brought back...
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...
First Action May Not Be the Last
A few seasons ago, a game was stopped six times for instant play reviews. Four stops led to reversals of the onfield call. Two of the reversals involved...
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...
Can You Compare Refereeing Soccer To Catching A Fish? As a Matter of Fact...
You might not think so, but the individuals who arbitrate the rules or laws of soccer on a regular basis and the individuals who...
The Way We’ll Play Today
B
aseball is unique in the fact its playing confines are not always specifically spelled out by the rulebook.
Yes, at the NFHS, college and pro...
Bean There, Seen That
When it comes to hit batters, softball umpires don’t have to make the exact same decisions as their baseball counterparts. Beanball wars in softball...
Now, Later and Never
The idea of a flag being waved off brings to mind an overbearing referee trumping the decision of a younger crewmate. That has happened...
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...
Make Your Move
When it comes to adjudicating plays at the plate in softball, the one-size-fits-all philosophy no longer works. Every play is dynamic and no two...
Everybody’s Talkin’
Pregame conferences during the pandemic were often short or non-existent. Many schools asked us to come dressed and masked and arrive at the game...
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...
Forward Fumbles Lead the Way
By Joe Jarosz
Forward fumbles ruled out of bounds between the goallines will now be brought back to the spot of the fumble due to...
Basepath Blunders
A baserunner caught in a rundown between two bases can be among the most exciting plays in fast-pitch softball, but it also creates a...
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...
Understanding Assigners
I’ve never known an official who was completely satisfied with game assignments. Most think highly of their capabilities and believe they deserve the big...
Find Those Stray Baseballs
Before a half-inning begins, remember to check the field and backstop for stray baseballs. That’s especially important before the top of the first inning....
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...