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PODCAST

The Crown Refs Podcast

The Crown Refs Podcast is the ultimate audio experience for basketball officials looking to elevate their craft, build confidence, and achieve long-term success on and off the court. Hosted by Paul Diasparra, this podcast helps referees master their skills, refine their judgment, and develop a strong officiating mindset. It features top names in officiating like Joey Crawford, Roger Ayers, Dee Kantner, Maia Chaka, Lisa Mattingly, Tyler Ford, Penny Davis, Reggie Greenwood, Scott Foster, Al Battista,

sports basketball

All Episodes

00:33:21

#411 The Clinician's Corner

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/11/01

Step into The Clinician’s Corner, a special episode capturing the heart of Crown Refs camp culture—where education meets elevation. This episode features a dynamic mix of live post-game feedback sessions from camp season, offering real-time coaching moments, layered breakdowns, and invaluable takeaways for officials at every level. Whether it's tightening up your push signal, improving court presence, or making smart rotations, this audio experience puts you courtside with someone who is

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01:37:29

#410 How Officials Get Selected to the NCAA...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/10/25

How Officials Get Selected: Behind the National Tournament ProcessIn this episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, we sit down with John Blazek, the National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials for NCAA Division II and a 15-year Division I official. With a rich background as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal, Blazek brings a lifetime of leadership experience to the mic.This conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look into the NCAA selection process for national tournament

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00:27:10

#409 The Referee HelpDesk | Court Support #2

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/10/16

This episode of The Referee Help Desk brings together real officiating questions from across all Crown Refs platforms and turns them into lessons for officials at every level. Topics include when to use the block signal, how to report fouls efficiently, handling technical fouls calmly, and mastering the Start–Develop–Finish–Decide philosophy for slowing down the whistle and improving judgment. The episode also dives into partner communication, ambidextrous signaling, film study strategies, and how

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00:21:43

#408 The Referee HelpDesk | Court Support Ticket #1

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/10/09

Welcome to The Referee Helpdesk, the customer support center for basketball officials. Each week, I take questions I’ve received from referees across all platforms and answer them on Tik Tok Live—turning real-world scenarios into teachable moments for the entire officiating community. Think of it as your on-demand support line for everything that happens on and off the court.In this episode, we cover how to handle partners who see the game differently, and when it’s appropriate to change your call

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00:44:29

#407 The Preseason Push | feat. Chris Velaoras

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/10/05

The Preseason PUSH | Feat. Chris VelaorasThis episode features clips from May’s Crown Refs Skill Development Clinic (Signal School Session) plus new halftime and post-game conversations from three fall-league games.Topics covered include:Getting together on all borderline intentional foulsDead Ball officiating readiness during dive on foulsFaking being fouled and how to identify acting vs. genuine contactWhen and why to use an immediate whistleThe FACTS framework — Fouls, Arrow, Clock, Timeouts,

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01:31:09

#406 NCAA-M Rules Review | Rule 10: Fouls & Penalties...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/09/25

In this Crown Refs community rules session, Chris Velaoras and Mikaiya Moore led an in-depth breakdown of Rule 10: Fouls and Penalties, providing referees with the knowledge and clarity they need heading into the season. The discussion explored the different categories of fouls, including Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2, using the WIF principle—windup, impact, and follow-through—as a practical framework to help officials assess severity on the court. The session also addressed contact dead-ball technical

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01:06:49

#405 Building Better Referees from the Ground Up |...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/09/18

FOR FULL EPISODE GO TO PATREON.COM/CROWNREFSChris Rastatter is the NCAA Men’s Division 1 National Coordinator of Officials, overseeing mechanics, training, and tournament selections for men’s college basketball. A 27-year DI referee, Chris worked the NCAA Tournament before moving into his leadership role, where he now mentors and evaluates the nation’s top officials.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🚦 Points of Emphasis for 2025–26: Why continuous motion will spark offense, how the coach’s

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00:15:58

#404 Pro City Runs | feat. Kenny Widgeon | with...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/09/16

Step inside the action at New York City’s legendary Pro City at LIU Brooklyn, where we miked up NBL official Kenny Widgeon. Kenny’s journey is as unique as it is inspiring—he broke into the professional ranks in Australia after a connection through the Crown Refs Podcast with Scott Butler, the NBL’s Coordinator of Officials. With years of experience on both sides of the globe, Kenny brings a calm, seasoned presence to one of the most competitive summer leagues in the country.In this episode,

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00:52:09

#403 Whistle Wisdom | with Montrell Cade |...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/08/01

In this inspiring episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, Paul welcomes longtime community member and high-character official Montreal Cade, who currently resides in Columbia, Maryland. Montreal began his officiating journey through the intramural program at Towson University before getting certified and working high school basketball for the past eight years. Over the last six years, he has steadily climbed into the college ranks, working NCAA games and recently officiated his first state championship

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01:21:16

#402 The Coordinator's Cut | w/Lisa Mattingly | SEC...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/07/12

In this powerful episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, we welcome Lisa Mattingly, Coordinator of Officials for the SEC and one of the most respected voices in women’s college basketball officiating. A veteran of the WNBA and NCAA Final Fours, Lisa has spent decades refining her craft both on and off the court. She brings unmatched wisdom, authenticity, and candor to the conversation as she reflects on her officiating journey, her transition from working national semifinal games to leading one of the

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00:47:16

#401 The Skill Development Series | Part 1

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/06/26

🎙️ Welcome to The Skill Development Series! This episode was recorded at our first-ever in-person event — the Crown Refs Skill Development Clinic held on April 12, 2025, in Berlin, Connecticut. It was a long-awaited, highly anticipated, and special day that brought together core Crown Refs family members for a unique experience of relationship-building, learning, and growth. The event was designed as an intimate, small-group setting with only nine invited officials to ensure maximum impact and

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01:11:58

#400 Episode 400 | feat. Ashley Birch | G-League &...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/05/29

Recorded live from CayVision Podcast Studios, episode 400 features Ashley Birch, a driven and inspiring NCAA Division I and NBA G-League official. Born and raised in Kansas City and now based in Dallas, Ashley opens up about her path into officiating after a playing career and a background in tech. Just completed her first season with the G-League, she talks about adapting to the speed, athleticism, and expectations of the men’s pro game, as well as the mental and emotional tools she’s built along

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01:35:33

#399 Game Notes 043 | Jesse Stricherz | Belle Fourne, SD

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/05/10

In Game Notes 043, we sit down with South Dakota official Jesse Stricherz for a reflective and educational IPR breakdown. Jesse, who began officiating at age 15, brings decades of experience and humility to the table as he shares the highs and challenges of managing competitive games. One of the standout moments in this episode is Jesse's discussion around coach interactions, particularly navigating a heated sideline exchange with a calm but firm response. The episode dives deep into his

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00:31:01

#398 Top 5 Ways to grow your officiating game | 5...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/05/04

In this episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, we share a powerful conversation originally featured on the Five Tips & Tricks Podcast, where the spotlight is on what it truly takes to grow and thrive as a basketball official. The discussion covers the foundational pillars of officiating development—including mastering the rule book, maximizing game reps, breaking down film, and attending referee camps to accelerate learning. It also explores the current officiating shortage and the critical role

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00:54:56

#397 How we built the Crown Refs Community | The...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/03/25

In this episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, we explore the journey from our inception to becoming a thriving community for basketball officials. The narrative begins before 2018, detailing the launch of inaugural show, "The Basketball Shop," co-hosted by Mr. Pink. It then delves into the introduction of the Individual Performance Report (IPR) service—a film review and game breakdown offering—that provides officials with invaluable feedback to enhance their skills.We share insights about the organic

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01:29:14

#396 The Long List of Ingredients to cut out of your...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/03/18

In this episode of The Dialed In Podcast, Paul and Marc continue their mission of inspiring transformation and optimization. Marc dives deep into his journey through fitness, nutrition, and movement training, sharing key insights on nutrient timing, gut health, and aligning your habits with your goals. His practical tips provide a relatable and motivating perspective on staying consistent—even through challenges like the holiday season.This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to clean up

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00:35:06

#395 From Stripes to Strategy | feat. Ken Joslin |...

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/03/11

In this episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, we sit down with Ken Joslin, a former NCAA women’s basketball referee and college baseball umpire who transitioned from officiating to becoming a top entrepreneur, speaker, and coach. Ken shares his inspiring journey through the officiating ranks, including his pivotal moment at an SEC/ACC umpire camp, where he was told that in order to reach the next level, he needed to lose weight. That feedback sparked a transformative journey, leading him to lose 100

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00:54:04

#394 Runnin Ref | with Austin Ardrey

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/03/04

In this episode of the Crown Refs Podcast, we sit down with Austin Ardrey, also known as the Runnin Ref, to dive into the intersection of fitness, officiating, and performance training. Austin is a former strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level who transitioned into working with officials to help them stay injury-free, mobile, and game-ready. Through his Runnin Ref training programs, he provides sport-specific strength and conditioning for basketball, football, and soccer officials,

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00:46:56

#393 2025 In-Season Notes | Keep Serving the Game!

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/02/15

In this episode of The Crown Refs Podcast, we dive into key insights for the 2025 season, breaking down the habits, mindset shifts, and game strategies that separate great officials from the rest.Topics Covered:✅ Stop Judging Your Partners’ Calls – Focus on your role and elevate the crew.✅ Next Play Mentality – Stay locked in and avoid dwelling on the past.✅ Handling Reactions – Don’t be shocked by coaches, players, or fans—stay composed.✅ Back-to-Back Technical Fouls – When and how to manage

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01:12:08

#392 Paul's Transformation | The Dialed In Podcast Ep. 1

The Crown Refs Podcast ·

2025/02/03

In the inaugural episode of The Dialed In Podcast, hosts Paul Diasparra and Marc Vaccaro take you on an inspiring journey through Paul’s remarkable awakening to wellness. After years of average and inconsistent progress, Paul shares the pivotal moment that transformed his health and mindset forever. Together, they unpack the exact steps Paul took to overhaul his approach to food with clean eating, the foundational role of gut health, and the game-changing effectiveness of a high-protein diet.Marc

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345 results

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