Chatter S1 Ep.2: Should Officials Follow the Rules… or the Game? Ft. Jake Steinbrenner

Описание: What actually makes a great official?

In this episode of Chatter by Elements Athletics, we dive deep into the human element of officiating: the judgment, communication, and leadership skills that can’t be taught by rulebooks alone and can’t be replicated by AI.

Joined by veteran referee coach Jake Steinbrecher, we explore why judgment has always been at the heart of officiating, and why some governing bodies are now moving toward stricter, rule-only enforcement. We discuss the challenges this creates in real game environments, where player interaction, context, and fairness matter just as much as technical accuracy.

In this Chatter Episode we also unpack:
→ Why officiating can’t be reduced to video clips alone
→ How mentorship and dialogue shape better officials
→ The role of rulebook mastery in confident communication
→ Why trust and credibility come before judgment
→ How overworking officials impacts performance and decision-making
→ The growing issue of abuse, doxxing, and zero-tolerance policies
→ Leadership, integrity, and knowing when to step away from a game

We are talking about the realities officials face today — from excessive game loads to increasing hostility from the stands — and what associations can do to protect and develop officials more effectively.

Whether you’re a referee, coach, administrator, or someone who cares about the future of sport, this episode offers a candid, experience-driven look at what officiating really demands!

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Explore/Read the Blueprint of a Great Referee as mentioned in the episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p...