Violet Palmer: The Play Is The Play

As the 2025–2026 basketball season comes to a close, Violet Palmer reflects on an incredible year of conversations, lessons, and stories from some of the game’s most respected officials and leaders. In this special season finale of  The Play is The Play , Violet revisits powerful moments from throughout the season. From Bobby Mozee’s insights on the importance of mentorship, to Rod Palmer and Tany...

In this episode of  The Play is The Play , Violet Palmer sits down with Division I official Scott Osborne for a conversation rooted in family, fundamentals, and the responsibility that comes with wearing the stripes. Scott shares what it was like growing up in an officiating family — learning the craft not from a classroom, but from the backseat of a car listening to postgame breakdowns with his d...

In this episode of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer sits down with Simona Petronyte for a conversation that blends culture, authenticity, and high-level officiating. In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Simona opens up about her journey as an official from Lithuania, navigating basketball at an elite level while embracing who she truly is. She talks about the importance of being authentic, stayi...

This episode takes you behind the whistle and behind the scenes. Violet Palmer opens the show with a candid conversation alongside her wife about what it’s like to be married to a basketball official. They discuss travel, time commitments, understanding the profession, and the role support plays in sustaining both the relationship and the career. Violet then teams up with Brian Woods to break down...

The Play is The Play with Violet Palmer returns with a meaningful conversation centered on development, foundation, and trusting the officiating process. In this episode, Violet is joined by Dana Pappas for the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, where they discuss the importance of interscholastic sports officiating. Together, they highlight why the high school level is more than just a stepping stone—it’...

n this episode, Violet Palmer sits down with several new hires for the VP12 team to give listeners an inside look at what it’s like to work on her staff. The group shares where they got started in officiating, what led them to this opportunity, and their early experiences joining a leadership team built on preparation, accountability, and trust. They also talk candidly about expectations, communic...

In Keepin’ It Real, Jeanie Buss joins Violet Palmer for an honest discussion about leadership at the highest level of professional sports. Jeanie shares insight on decision-making, responsibility, and what it means to lead with purpose in environments where pressure is constant. Then on The Play Is The Play, Kelly Broomfield dives into the importance of understanding the layers within a play, havi...

In this episode of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer is joined by her best friend and right-hand person, Chancy, for a behind-the-scenes look at the Basics Referee School program and the people who make it special. In  Keepin’ It Real , Violet and Chancy talk openly about the vision behind Basics Referee School—why it was created, how it supports officials at every stage, and what it takes to...

The Play Is The Play  brings together family, basketball culture, and on-court teaching in a powerful way. In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Wun Versher — Violet Palmer’s nephew — joins the show to talk about growing up in a basketball family and his experience with the Harlem Globetrotters. Wun shares what it was like being surrounded by the game at a young age, how that environment shaped his mi...

Violet Palmer sits down with Bobby Mozee, her first mentor in officiating and the person who helped lay the foundation for everything that followed in her historic career. From mechanics and professionalism to confidence and accountability, Bobby shares what he saw early in Violet—and the lessons he believed would carry her far beyond the high school gym. In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Bobby re...

In this special episode of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer is joined by her brother, Rod Palmer, for a conversation that blends family, perspective, and the game they both love. In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Violet and Rod reflect on growing up in a sports family, the lessons they learned early, and how competition, accountability, and support shaped who they are today. They talk about h...

Summary The conversation delves into the critical responsibilities of sports officials, emphasizing the importance of decision-making, accountability, and clear communication during high-pressure situations. The speakers discuss the expectations placed on officials to provide opinions and clarity, especially when the stakes are high.

In this episode of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer sits down with Kathleen Kassidy to talk about opportunity, preparation, and trusting the process—even when the moment feels bigger than you. In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Kathleen shares the story of how she received her opportunity during the COVID year, a time when officiating rosters were thin and flexibility was essential. She opens...

In Episode 9 of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer sits down with Alecia Murray for an insightful conversation on the importance of crew chemistry — how to create trust, build comfort, and help every partner perform their best on the floor. In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Alecia shares how she approaches crew development, focusing on communication, collaboration, and connection. She discusses...

In this special edition of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer is joined by two powerhouse leaders in women’s college basketball — Connie Hurlbut (West Coast Conference) and Jaynee Nadolski (Big Sky Conference). In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment, Connie and Jaynee sit down with Violet to discuss the state of women’s basketball, the growth of the game, and why officiating development is crucial to...

In Episode 7 of  The Play Is The Play ,  Violet Palmer  welcomes  In’Fini Robinson  for a dynamic conversation about identity, presence, and purpose in officiating. In  Keepin’ It Real , In’Fini breaks down what it means to  brand yourself as an official  — from how you present yourself on the floor to the effort you put in off of it. She challenges officials to think about  what kind of referee t...

In this powerful episode of  The Play Is The Play ,  Violet Palmer  sits down with  Kim Hobbs  to talk about perseverance, perspective, and purpose after adversity. In  Keepin’ It Real , Kim opens up about the  season-ending injury  that sidelined her after suffering  hamstring tears  — and the long road to recovery that followed. She shares how faith, focus, and the officiating community helped h...

In Episode 5 of  The Play Is The Play ,  Violet Palmer  brings together two voices in officiating —  Schel V. Brown  and  Kenny Nash  — for an episode all about  growth, composure, and leadership . In the  Keepin’ It Real  segment,  Schel Brown  opens up about working his  first Division I game  alongside Violet. He shares what that moment meant to him, how Violet helped him feel confident on the...

In Episode 4 of  The Play Is The Play , Violet Palmer  sits down with  Ashley Ellis  for an honest discussion about  work-life balance  and how clear communication can keep officials grounded both on and off the court. They share practical advice on managing demanding travel schedules, maintaining family life, and collaborating with assigners and crews to make the season run smoothly. It’s a conve...

In Episode 3 of  The Play Is The Play , legendary referee  Violet Palmer  welcomes  Julie Kromenhoek , a respected  basketball official , for an episode centered on staying sharp — both physically and mentally — throughout the season. Together, Violet and Julie break down a real play that highlights the  importance of staying engaged at trail  — maintaining awareness, reading matchups, and staying...

In Episode 2 of  The Play Is The Play , legendary referee  Violet Palmer  sits down with veteran official  Lisa Jones  for a powerful conversation that blends film breakdown, mentorship, and motivation. Together, Violet and Lisa analyze a real in-game situation — focusing on  trusting your coverage, maintaining positioning, and understanding when to take the call . Their discussion shows how aware...

In the premiere episode of  The Play Is The Play , legendary referee  Violet Palmer  welcomes respected official and mentor  Bob Scofield . Together, they break down a real game situation and highlight the key lessons every official can carry onto the court: awareness, positioning, and trusting your crew. In this debut episode you’ll hear: The Play Is The Play : Violet and Bob dissect a late-game...