Taking Care Of Business

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Covering legal issues, insurance concerns, and best practices related to taxes, reports and paperwork.

How to Write an Officiating Resumé

Nine times out of 10, a bad resumé will land in the “circular file” before the first half is read. Some bad resumés are just...

Accepting Assignments: Dos and Don’ts

Games! We all want as many as we can possibly handle, but when it comes to accepting assignments, you can't just say yes without...

Coexist with Photographers

Officials are in the middle of the action, focused on the game but also aware of the sideline surroundings. Similarly, photographers and community access cable television camera operators...

Don’t Officiate an “Unofficial” Game

Games can be over before they begin. Some officials fall into the trap of officiating the extra inning after a run rule, or starting...

Safety and Warmups When a Team Arrives Late

As a sports official, you’ve been there. You’ve fought the traffic to show up to a field on a cold, rainy day, in plenty...

Enforcing vs. Interpreting the Rules

Today’s high school sports officials are often caught between the “rock” of enforcing rules strictly and the “hard place” of interpreting the rules sensibly,...

Let the Media Handle the Postgame Commentary

When it comes to officials and the media, it might have been legendary major league umpire Bill Klem who said it best. “I don’t...

What is an Oral Contract?

The difference between an oral contract and a written contract is obviously the writing. A contract is simply an offer accepted by another party with the parties exchanging something...

Rules Test Tips for Takers and Givers

There are those who argue that a rules test is not the most reliable method of determining an official’s rules knowledge. How much stock you place in...