Communication

Coaches sometimes get upset with a call or no-call from the middle officials (referee, umpire, or back judge) and, in frustration, yell onto the field at those officials. In these moments, the…

One of the most important aspects of officiating is how we communicate with coaches. Too often, officials fall into the trap of trying to convince a coach that they are right. That’s…

NFL sideline official Jeff Hutcheon recently shared a powerful insight during an interview with the South Denver Fellowship of Christian Athletes (posted on YouTube on May 26, 2025). He was talking about…

In the previous Ready for Play article, we discussed using descriptive words to provide clarity when communicating with coaches. In this article, we’ll look at words officials sometimes use that don’t really…

When communicating with coaches, we need to be clear, concise, and correct. Get into the habit of repeating Rules Book verbiage as much as possible. Additionally, we can use descriptive words that,…

As a crew chief, I have 13 other officials on my crew. I supervise the overall activities of the crew including education and training and game assignments. Some associations have smaller established…

Sometimes we freeze, brain-fart, head up and lock, swallow our whistle, or panic. We make the wrong call. It happens. How we react when we snap out of it and refocus is…

If you’re a little older like me, you may remember Major League Baseball confrontations between an old-school manager (think Billy Martin, Earl Weaver, or Tommy Lasorda) and an umpire. Both men’s faces…