From A to Zebra

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas and co-host Nata Acosta welcome Steve Javie, a legendary basketball referee. They discuss Javie's journey in officiating, the importance of accountability, mentorship, and self-motivation in the officiating community. Javie shares insights on controlling what you can, the significance of fundamentals, and the impact of s...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta welcome Mike Pereira, a prominent figure in officiating, to discuss the X Factor in officiating. Pereira shares his extensive journey in officiating, starting from his first game in 1971 to becoming the vice president of officiating for the NFL. The conversation delves into the importance of communication, c...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas and guest Jason Nickleby discuss the journey of officiating, the importance of family support, understanding one's motivations, goal setting, and the significance of training and education in officiating. They emphasize the relationships built through officiating and the rewarding experiences that come from being involve...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas discusses the vital role of veterans in officiating sports. Joined by guests from three organizations—Battlefields 2 Ballfields, Protect the Game, and Vets to Refs—each representative shares insights into their missions to recruit and support military veterans in becoming sports officials. The conversation highlights persona...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas and guests Marsha Alterman, Joan Powell, and Anne Pufahl discuss the uniqueness of officiating in sports, particularly volleyball. They share their personal journeys into officiating, the challenges of transitioning to leadership roles, and the importance of mentorship and relationships within the officiating community. The...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas and co-host Nate Acosta welcome Terry Gregson, a former NHL referee and director of officiating. They discuss the critical role of teamwork in officiating, Terry's journey to the NHL, and the importance of building a culture of collaboration among officials. The conversation also touches on the significance of mentorship...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta engage with Julian Tackett and Mark Uyl, leaders in high school sports officiating. They discuss the critical support provided by state associations to officials, the importance of having officiating experience in leadership roles, and the strategies implemented to advocate for officials. The conversation al...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta welcome Paul Laporte, a legendary figure in the officiating community. The conversation delves into the importance of recruitment and retention of officials, highlighting Paul's extensive career and the impact he has had on many officials' lives. The discussion covers Paul's journey into officiat...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta discuss the theme of quality in officiating with retired MLB umpires Gary Darling and Jim Reynolds. The conversation explores the journeys of the guests into the world of umpiring, their involvement with UMPS Care Charities, and the importance of being quality officials both on and off the field. They share...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta welcome officiating veterans Scott Goodheart, Todd Tichenor, and John Blazek to discuss the theme of 'paying it forward' in officiating. The conversation explores their personal journeys in officiating, the challenges and rewards they face, and the importance of mentorship and community in the offici...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas interviews Billy Haze, the NCAA Director of Umpire Training for baseball. They discuss the theme of opportunity in officiating, exploring Billy's journey from high school umpiring to his current administrative role. The conversation highlights the importance of seizing opportunities, the transition from on-field to admin...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta discuss the concept of 'guts' in sports officiating with special guest Walt Sanchez. The conversation explores the journey of Walt from coaching to officiating, emphasizing the importance of empathy, communication, and teamwork in the officiating community. They delve into the challenges faced by off...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, host Dana Pappas discusses the National Association of Sport Officials with guest Bill Topp. They explore the vital role of sports officials, the challenges they face, the importance of training and development, and the future of officiating in sports. Chapters 00:00 Leading Educators of Sports Officials 00:25 It's About Respect 01:32 Ed...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta engage with Major League Baseball umpires Doug Eddings and Mike Everitt to discuss the vital role of mentorship in officiating. The conversation covers their personal journeys into umpiring, experiences in high-pressure situations like the World Series, and the importance of having mentors throughout their c...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta engage with Division I basketball referees Bob Schofield and Tyler Trimble. They discuss their officiating journeys, the importance of community and camps, and how humor and levity play crucial roles in officiating. The conversation emphasizes the significance of building relationships with coaches, players,...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, Dana Pappas interviews Kyle Armstrong, CEO and founder of RefReps, an innovative online sports officiating curriculum. They discuss the importance of knowledge in officiating, how RefReps is changing the landscape of officiating education, and the growth of the program across the United States. The conversation highlights the unique teaching...

Summary: In this engaging conversation, Kyle Bacon shares his extensive journey in officiating, discussing the various phases of his career, the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned along the way. From his early days as a college freshman to becoming a Final Four official, Kyle emphasizes the importance of patience, preparation, and the ability to adapt to setbacks, including the impact of...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta engage with NCAA officials Penny Davis and Chris Rastatter. They discuss their journeys into officiating, the challenges of transitioning from on-court roles to leadership positions, and the importance of intention in officiating. The conversation highlights personal growth, the impact of Intention on offici...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta engage with Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS, to discuss the vital role of officials in interscholastic sports. They explore the structure and purpose of the NFHS, the challenges faced by officials, and the importance of recognition and appreciation for their work. The conversation also highlights variou...

Summary: In this conversation, Brenda Hilton, CEO and Founder of Officially Human, discusses the recent developments in the sports officiating landscape and the growth of her organization, Officially Human. She emphasizes the importance of humanizing officials and restoring respect for them in the sports community. The discussion also covers the Elevate Respect program aimed at educating fans and...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta interview Noah Katz, founder of the UMPIRE Channel. They discuss the concept of 'gumption' and how it has played a crucial role in Noah's journey as an umpire and social media influencer. Noah shares his experiences in officiating, the challenges he faced, and the impact of social media on promot...

Summary: In this episode of the From A to Zebra podcast, hosts Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta reunite with officiating friends to discuss the importance of the officiating family. They explore personal stories, the Referee Educational Forum, and the bonds formed through officiating. The conversation highlights the support system within the officiating community, the excitement of officiating, and the...

Summary: In this conversation, Barry Mano shares information and stories about the founding of REI (Referee Enterprises Inc.) and NASO (National Association of Sports Officials. We also dive into the Letter E - Ethics with Barry and discuss the importance and challenges of being ethical within the officiating world. Conversation includes the theme and overall direction of the first issue of Refere...

Summary: In this conversation, Ron Foxcroft shares a humorous and engaging story about a royal encounter involving lawn care and Canada geese. He highlights the importance of innovative solutions in addressing unexpected challenges, showcasing a light-hearted interaction with royalty. The podcast focuses on the Letter D and the word Determination. How Determination played a role in Ron Foxcroft&#3...

Summary: The conversation revolves around the importance of community in officiating, the mission of Sports Officials Care (SOC), and the personal experiences of officials. The guests discuss the need for empathy towards officials, the challenges they face, and the initiatives SOC is undertaking to support and educate both officials and the community. They emphasize the significance of collaborati...