Ready For Play

There’s a concept called Verbal Judo that comes from the law enforcement world. Dr. George Thompson, a former English professor, developed it and trained police officers to use words to defuse conflict…

We continue our Ready for Play series on official-coach communication with an article from Referee Magazine, published online July 15, 2026. Don’t reward the behavior Coaches learn quickly what gets results. If…

Condensed and adapted from “Why Are You Talking?” by Tim Yonke, Referee Magazine, June 24, 2021. Communication may not be the first skill that comes to mind when we think about becoming…

From Paul Diasparra CrownRefs Facebook post, dated February 16, 2026, (paraphrased for football officiating). Don’t let a coach prompt you to go help your crewmate. If I’m not going to help my…

Adapted from a CrownRefs Facebook article, February 15, 2026. I’ve adapted some of the wording, replacing basketball-specific terminology and positions with their football equivalents. You’ve probably heard this, but words matter, especially…

Adapted from a CrownRefs Facebook article, February 14, 2026. I’ve adapted some of the wording, replacing basketball-specific terminology and positions with their football equivalents. Here a reminder to stay respectful with the…

Adapted from a CrownRefs Facebook article (Coaches… If You Want a Real Conversation, Use Realistic Language), February 9, 2026. I’ve adapted some of the wording, replacing basketball-specific terminology and positions with their…

Taken from a CrownRefs Facebook article, Feb 5, 2026. I’ve adapted some of his wording, replacing basketball-specific terminology and positions with their football equivalents. If you ever find yourself stuck when a…