We Know The Rules

Summary Amy Pu discusses insights from her conversation with Katarina Cepinova, an international indoor volleyball referee, focusing on nutrition, hydration and confidence building.

Summary Katarina Cepinova shares her inspiring journey as the first female international indoor volleyball referee for England, discussing her career progression, challenges, and initiatives to support women in officiating. Introduction Katarina started playing volleyball since the age of 6 in Slovakia. After Moving to the UK at the age of 18, she played for LVA and NVL teams for over 10 years bef...

Summary Amy Pu reflects on the conversation she had with Rachel Lee, an Ultimate Frisbee player, and the unique aspects of the sport focusing on the spirit of the game. She discusses about personal growth through sports and highlights how these principles can be applied across all sports and life.

Summary In this engaging conversation, Rachel Lee shares her experiences and insights into the world of Ultimate Frisbee, a unique self-officiating sport that emphasises the spirit of the game and inclusivity. Rachel discusses the challenges of confrontation on the field, the dynamics of mixed-gender play, and the importance of community and communication in sports. She reflects on her journey as...

Summary Amy Pu reflects on the inspiring journey of Desislava Bozhilova, the first woman to referee all finals in the Triple Crown Tournament, highlighting gender equality in sports officiating and the importance of support and mentorship.

Summary In this episode of We Know the Rules, Desislava Bozhilova shares her inspiring journey as the first female referee to officiate the finals of the Triple Crown Tournament. She discusses the challenges and achievements of her career to date, the importance of representation in sports, and her passion for snooker. Desislava emphasises the supportive community within the snooker world and enco...

Summary In this More Than an Afterthought, Amy Pu reflects on her discussion with Hilary Lissenden, one of her mentors when she was in amateur boxing. She talks about the significance of mentorship, the diverse roles within sports, the courage to pivot in one's career, and the importance of finding joy and maintaining mental health in professional pursuits. Amy emphasises that mentorship shoul...

Summary In this conversation, Hilary Lissenden discusses the challenges of self-advocacy in for women in amateur boxing and professional settings, particularly when it comes to career advancements and upgrades, from her own personal experience. She reflects on her thirteen-year officiating career, where there were a lot of learning as well as opportunities that helped shape and build her resilienc...

Summary In this More Than an Afterthought, Amy Pu reflected on the challenges and lessons learned from being a referee in sports. She emphasises the importance of recognising human mistakes and the need for authenticity in communication. Through her experiences, she highlights the resilience and strength gained from being vulnerable and encourages girls and women to take up the challenge.

Summary In this engaging conversation, Aimee shares her remarkable journey from being a player to becoming a top referee in the world of rugby. She discusses the challenges and lessons learned in her transition, the importance of authenticity and respect in refereeing, and how her diagnosis of autism has shaped her approach to the game. Aimee emphasises the need for inclusivity in rugby and encour...

Summary In this episode of More Than an Afterthought, I reflect on my conversation with Gabbi, highlighting the challenges faced by female referees and the importance of mentorship in sports. Gabbi challenges the notion of visibility in role models and emphasises the need for women to carve their own paths in professional sports. I also share my own experiences in boxing and the significant role o...

Summary In this episode of the We Know the Rules podcast, Gabrielle Boateng shares her inspiring journey as a female basketball referee in the UK. She discusses her experiences in officiating, the challenges she faces in a male-dominated sport, and the importance of representation for young girls in sports. Gabrielle emphasises the need for a strong mindset, the significance of self-talk, and the...

Summary In this More Than an Afterthought, I reflected on what Annika said about her insecurity and how she used it to help herself. I also shared about how I feel about being one of the very few East Asian faces in boxing.

Summary In this conversation, Annika, a women's lacrosse umpire, shares her journey into the sport, the differences between men's and women's lacrosse, and the importance of officiating. She discusses her personal growth, the challenges of being an official, and how insecurity can drive improvement. Annika emphasises the significance of mentorship, cultural diversity, and the evolving...

Summary In this More Than an Afterthought, I reflect on my conversation with Iqra, especially of the moment where she talked about the time when she had to ask for help. I share a personal story about my experience with injury and the lessons learned which could be applied in life.

Guest Introduction Iqra Malik is a 20 year-old football referee who didn't even like the game when she started, but now, it's one of the biggest parts of her life. What began as something new and unfamiliar has turned into something she's genuinely passionate about. Outside of football, she is also a singer-songwriter and pianist. She currently studies Philosophy and Communications at Nottingham T...

Summary In this More Than an Afterthought episode, I reflected on the experiences of Eva, a trans woman and ice hockey referee, particularly in light of recent rulings affecting transgender athletes in sports. I'd like to highlight the importance of inclusion, the need for open dialogue, and the impact of social media on athletes' experiences. I also emphasised the important of kindness an...

Guest Introduction Eva Harrison is a 27-year-old ice hockey referee currently working out in Sweden. She was a former player in the WNIHL elite league in the UK and currently referee a mixture of SDHL and a mixture of Distrikt/Regional hockey in Linköping, Sweden. This is alongside her experience of refereeing internationally. As a player she also experienced all levels of the UK hockey scene (fro...

Summary In this mini episode, I reflected on my own experiences and insights gained from my conversation with Diana, particularly around being stereotyped in professional settings, personal identity, and the challenges of overthinking. I shared my personal anecdotes, how I navigated moments of being misjudged and the subsequent overthinking, and the importance of bringing self-awareness into play.

Guest Introduction Diana Drews Milani is a seasoned boxing official with over a decade of experience in both amateur and professional boxing. A former amateur boxer until age 24, she holds a Trainer B license and has been officiating since 2014. She became a licensed Olympic judge and referee before expanding into the professional scene in 2017. Representing SwissBoxing, Diana works with major fed...