Beyond The Rules

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Every week a new tip will be released.. The goal is to give every official a tip they can use on right away across all sports. Host Stephen Batista will be joined by other officials who will assist on explaining and offering expertise. This week Stephen and Curtis Dugar discuss what it means to "Tell the call to yourself" Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://...

On the latest BTR, host Stephen Batista chats it up with the Kelvin Flores and Melvin Martinez, current and former head coach at Grand Street Campus in the Brooklyn, New York. Kelvin with the help and guidance of his former coach and mentor Melvin, was able to capture the 2024 PSAL city championship. The two discuss the past, present and future of Grand Street Baseball Access to all platforms: htt...

On the latest BTR, host Stephen Batista chats it up with the head coach at Madison High School in the Brooklyn, New York. The two discuss the 2023-2024 wrestling season, and how Steven was able to coach a 2024 NYS state champion. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Stephen Batista https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Stephen Batista https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On the latest BTR, host Stephen Batista chats it up with the multi sport head coach at Horace Mann High School in the Bronx, New York. The two discuss the 2023-2024 wrestling season, and how Gregg's been able to have a 30+ year coaching legacy at one of NYC's finest learning institutions. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Ste...

On the latest BTR, host Stephen Batista chats it up with the head wrestling coach of Nanuet High School in Rockland County, New York. The two discuss the 2023-2024 season, and how Sean found himself as a wrestler and coach for Nanuet HS. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Stephen Batista https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Stephen Batista https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On this episode, Stephen chats up John Cichon. John is the head wrestling coach of the Tottenville Pirates from Staten Island, NY. They discuss his 20+ year career in the sport and beyond. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Stephen Batista https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On this episode, Stephen chats up David Bloom. David is the head wrestling coach of the Mott Haven Mavericks out of the Bronx, NY. They discuss his near 20+ year career in the sport and beyond. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btr.podcast/ Stephen Batista https://www.instagram.com/rmg.referee/

On this episode of Talkin' Shop, Stephen and Carlos delve into wrestling. Wrestling is both Stephen and Carlos' sport they excelled in the most, and also the first sport they officiated. They discuss how each prepares for the upcoming season, while also bringing what they've learned from the previous baseball season to the table. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.ee/beyondtherules Instagram...

Curtis and Stephen are BACK! In this episode the two discuss fall baseball and how the games season can prove to be a pivotal time for growth. Taking all the things you've learned from the season and using the relaxed environment "fall ball" offers. From there the two discuss whats next for them personally, and share snippets of their ideas for their future and the future of umpiring in general. A...

On this episode, it’s all the things football. While not being a football referee himself, Stephen enlists the help of the “handsome Honduran” Carlos and Will Jeffries. Both of whom are high school and college level officials of the pigskin variety. Stephen does his best to serves as a vessel and parse the information between two highly acclaimed referees. Access to all platforms: https://linktr.e...

As the baseball season begins to wind down, players, coaches, parents and umpires all have a unique kind of fatigue. The linear connection we all share is the emotional invest we (should) all have. Everyone who invests passion, effort and time into sports will experience a return. Stephen and Carlos share stories within that vein. The vein that pumps the blood necessary to be good at something, Sp...

With the Little League World Series currently ongoing, BTR host Stephen Batista made sure to chat it up with someone with first hand experience. That someone is none other than Rich Ranalli Sr. Stephen has been lucky to work along side Rich for over 10 years as the two are also wrestling officials in the same association. Just like Stephen, Rich also is an umpire and has seen it all, including wor...

Well this is like when worlds collide!!! On this very special episode of the podcast, Stephen chats it up with both Curtis AND Carlos. The three have a great time talking over their varsity and college seasons. Each have their own tales to tell as umpires on the grind. From the ups and downs, the life of an official always lends itself to a vocation built on competency but forged in brotherhood. A...

What else can be said about Tottenville athletics. A school on Staten Island that has created and harnessed a culture of success, forged in a sea of championship teams and clubs across all sports with an allure the big bad wolf would admire, So how does head baseball manager Michael Grippo fit into all of this? As a student athlete himself at Tottenville, he had to understand right away what it ta...

Start spreading the news….! On this episode, Stephen chats it up with Tom Harper and Marièl Checo. Together they are the coaches of the 2023 “AA” PSAL baseball championship team Hunter College HS. Both coaches retell their amazing journeys. Head coach Tom Harper talks about his amateur career that led him to his position at Hunter. Combined with assistant coach Marièl Harper’s amazing story, from...

Reunited and it feels so good! On this episode Stephen and Curtis are back in the saddle! And this we brought with our fellow brother in "blue", Gary Peckman. Stephen and Curtis have known Gary for over 5 years each. Working every weekend together at Diamond Nation. The three discuss their 2023 spring seasons as they come to a conclusion, and the preparation for the dog days of summer travel ball....

Its the season for the postseason, With that comes a change of mindset. Staying sharp is no longer an expectation, its a demand. Two man goes to three man. Three man goes to four. Stephen and Carlos talk shop about staying ready so you don't have to get ready. Getting post season assignments is something every (good) umpire should strive for. Be it on the college or varsity level, the stakes are t...

On this episode of BTR, Stephen chats it up with the inimitably named Sócrates Peralta. Sócrates is the newly minted head coach of Morris Educational Campus. Sócrates takes over for Richard Corbo, who held the post for nearly 20 years, with a championship in 2008. The two discuss overcoming replacing such a legendary coach, but also the pressures of replacing his former coach as well. With Corbal’...

Curtis and Stephen are back together! The two have so much to catch up after a month between their last episode. In the middle of their respective seasons, both umpires discuss the grind plus how to prepare for the post season. Curtis shares his experiences as a NCAA umpire. With great expertise and dedication to the craft, Curtis talks what it takes to become a better umpire and keeping your mech...

This time around on "Talkin' Shop", Stephen and Carlos delve into an essential component to being good at anything in life, let alone being a good official; mentors. From baseball to wrestling, the two discuss how good leadership has been a big key to their success and pay tribute to those who've taken the time to in ensuring so. Conversely, Stephen and Carlos get into the other end of the spectru...

On this edition of BTR, Stephen chats it up with Bathgate coach and athletic director Steven Lomuscio. Since 2009 he’s seen it all as a multiple sport coach, and especially baseball. In 2018 he led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season which culminated in the schools first PSAL AA championship. From there the two discuss navigating Covid, and trying to repeat his previous success. Access to all pla...

On the first episode of a new "BTR" series, "Talkin' Shop", Stephen Batista and Carlos Dolmo let it all out. "Talkin' Shop" aims to provide a cathartic space for officials to converse situations that provided stiff learning experiences. Whether it be trial by fire, dealing with coaches or even partners who are forcing you to go beyond the rules, this series will cover it all and with candid honest...