Officiating Edge

Summary In this episode of The Officiating Edge Podcast, John McNeal and Grant Vermeer discuss the intersection of leadership and officiating, drawing from Grant's experiences as a Naval officer and basketball player. They explore how sports shape leadership skills, the unique environment of the Naval Academy, and the importance of mentorship and relationships in personal and professional development. Grant shares insights on transitioning from military service to officiating, emphasizing the role of service in leadership and the value of building a supportive community.

In this episode, John explores key concepts from “Student Development in College” by Patton and colleagues. Learn about the holistic growth of students through psychosocial, cognitive, and environmental factors, Arthur Chickering’s seven vectors of identity development, and the importance of social identity development theory. Essential insights for educators and student affairs professionals. Join us on this journey to better support student growth and development in higher education.

This is a solo episode with the creator of Unbiased Zebras, John McNeal. We take a deep dive into who he is, why he officiates and why recruiting and retention is so important to him.

In this episode, Paul Diasparra from Crown Refs joins John as they discuss how Crown Refs has built a community of referees who want to continue to grow. Paul explains how the community helps referees reach their potential by surrounding themselves with others who want to study, learn and be around other good people. John discusses how recruiting and retention can be combated through communities such as Crown Refs and Unbiased Zebras. Enjoy as the whistle gets blown in this episode of The Officiating Edge Podcast.

Welcome to the Officiating Edge Podcast, brought to you by Unbiased Zebras Referee Training. Episode 2 brings a special guest, former NFL VP of officiating and CEO of Battlefields 2 Ballfields. In this episode, Mike and John talk about Battlefields 2 Ballfields and the mission to bring military veterans from the community and help them continue serving as officials. They also touch heavily on recruiting and retention of officials and what it means to find pathways to higher levels. Get ready to learn as we dive into Mike Perdita’s officiating journey, insights, and his vision for officiating excellence.

Welcome to "Officiating Edge," the podcast brought to you by Unbiased Zebras Referee Training. This episode will feature Brenda Hilton. Brenda, the Founder and CEO of Officially Human has spent the past 23+ years in college athletics working with sports official assignors from the mid-majors to the highest level of Division I. Her current role at a DI conference serving as the Senior Director, Officiating keeps her engaged and learning more about the challenges collegiate conferences are facing with the shortage at the youth and high school levels. John and Brenda discuss what it takes to utilize every avenue of approach when it comes to recruiting and retaining officials, including social media and new events that help show the world that officials are human, too.