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The Crown Refs Podcast

Paul Diasparra
Basketball Officiating
NBA
Refereeing
Patreon
Crown Refs Mentor Program
Shaquille O'neal
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Michael Jordan
Dirk Nowitzki
Officiating Best Practices
Sportsmanship
Referee Training
Emotional Control
Communication
Boxing
Officiating
Game Management

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 Kan... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes361Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BasketballSports

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Artwork for The Crown Refs Podcast

Latest Episodes

Tommy Short is a former NCAA Division I men’s basketball official who built an impressive career working across multiple conferences before making the rare decision to step away in his mid-30s — not because he was “done,” but because he was crystal c... more

In this moving episode, Ryan Cadres joins the Crown Refs Podcast in honor of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month to share his powerful journey through officiating, leadership, and life. A 27-year official, current president of IAABO Board 54 in Massachuse... more

Brenda Hilton returns to the Crown Refs Podcast for a thoughtful conversation about her pioneering work through Officially Human and the long-term mission of restoring respect for sports officials. Brenda shares the evolution of the organization from... more

Rapid Responses 14 is a heavy-duty toolset built to help officials communicate with coaches more effectively and manage games with confidence. This episode goes beyond quick one-liners — it lays out a complete game management system for handling ever... more

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Recent Guests

Tommy Short
Former Division I official, author, and speaker
Former Pac-12 Official
Episode: #429 The Call I almost Missed | A year without a cell phone | Tommy Short | Former Pac-12 Official, Author, Speaker
Ryan Cadres
IAABO Board 54 President, cerebral palsy advocate and official
IAABO Board 54, Crown Refs
Episode: #428 Disabled, Not Unable | with Ryan Cadres | IAABO Board 54 President | Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Brenda Hilton
Co-founder of Officially Human; not-for-profit advocate
Officially Human
Episode: #427 Raising the Standards | The Rocky Road to Good Sportsmanship | with Brenda Hilton | Officiallyhuman.org
Lisa Mattingly
Notable official in women's basketball, worked Final Four National Championship games
Episode: #420 The Best of 2025 Mix | THANK YOU FOR 7 YEARS PODCASTING
John Blazek
Veteran referee with insights on officiating at higher levels
Episode: #420 The Best of 2025 Mix | THANK YOU FOR 7 YEARS PODCASTING
Rob Wann
Known as Ref Rob, a referee with a significant social media following for his insights into officiating.
Independent Official
Episode: #417 Ref Rob | The Internets Favorite Referee | feat. Rob Wann | Tik Tok Live
Tamara Jarrett
Co-founder of Elements Athletics and creator of Mic'd Up for Refs
Elements Athletics
Episode: #414 🎙️MIC'D UP: The Tool Helping Refs Gain Back Control | w/Tamara Jarrett
Marc Vaccaro
Health and wellness expert focused on nutrition and fitness for athletes
Episode: #415 💪🏽Health & Hoops🏀 | Longevity, Injury Prevention, & Clean-Eating for Officials | w/Marc Vaccaro
Chris Velaoras
An up-and-coming official and mentor within the Crown Refs community
Episode: #407 The Preseason Push | feat. Chris Velaoras

Host

Paul Diasparra
Host and creator of Crown Refs, focusing on basketball officiating and skill development for referees. Passionate about empowering officials and fostering a supportive officiating community.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 173 ratings
  • Lost it’s way

    Been a follower for years but it seems Paul & the podcast has lost its way.

    Not offering much on content anymore, instead, just out to make money. Don’t hate em for that, just not what I’m tuning in for.

    The evaluations at AAU tournaments are tough to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    huge ashole
    United States3 years ago
  • Great podcast

    As a younger official I’m always trying to find more info and tips to improve. This podcast is amazing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mookie2244
    United States4 years ago
  • Best basketball official content you’ll find

    Paul puts together great content! Theres nothing better out there in terms of basketball officiating content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prince_Andrew
    United States5 years ago
  • Keys to improving as a official

    I started listening to this podcast over a year ago, and I was instantly hooked. I went back and listened to every episode. At the time I think there was 50 or so episdoes. Every episode I walk away with multiple tips to implement into my game. It has become a great pregame listen on my way to my games and helps keep those tips from the episode fresh. Paul does a great job not only bringing great guest but keeping the content ideas new and different, from the IDP, to rules talk, the NBA/NCAA Off... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pedrojr44
    United States5 years ago
  • Great Information

    Lots of great information for basketball officials of all experience levels. Highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NickNakster7
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The community aspect is well-received, with many expressing gratitude for the support and sense of belonging found within the officiating network.
Some critiques mention a perceived shift in content focus towards monetization, though this is not universally agreed upon.
Positive feedback emphasizes the value of content tailored for officials of all levels, with valuable insights for performance improvement.
Listeners appreciate the practical tips and advice shared, often highlighting the wealth of knowledge gained from experienced guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#250
Australia/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#127
Netherlands/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#148
Belgium/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#205
Japan/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#219
Denmark/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#429 The Call I almost Missed | A year without a cell phone | Tommy Short | Former Pac-12 Official, Author, Speaker
Q: What led you to retire, and how did the personal factors influence that decision?
He explains wanting to prioritize family after having his first child, recognizing the long-term trajectory of travel and time away from loved ones, and choosing to step away at the peak to pursue other opportunities.
#428 Disabled, Not Unable | with Ryan Cadres | IAABO Board 54 President | Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Q: How has cerebral palsy shaped your officiating approach?
Ryan explains that CP influences his movement and pregame routines, but on the court his focus is on preparation, rules mastery, and building trust with his partners and signers, which enables him to perform at a high level.
#427 Raising the Standards | The Rocky Road to Good Sportsmanship | with Brenda Hilton | Officiallyhuman.org
Q: What is the motivation behind the activity book and the not-for-profit pivot for Officially Human?
Brenda explains that the book is designed to introduce officiating to youth in an engaging way, using characters and stories to humanize officials. The not-for-profit shift allows reinvestment into the mission, expansion of distribution, and fundraising to maximize reach.
#424 quiet CONFIDENCE | Handling Coaches, Critics, & Pressure
Q: What skills will you teach sports officials that attend this camp?
The camp will focus on communication with coaches, game management, signal proficiency, and individual feedback to help officials enhance their performance.
#424 quiet CONFIDENCE | Handling Coaches, Critics, & Pressure
Q: What are some failures that you had in your 14 years that you felt have actually made you a better official and helped you reach those peaks year in and year out?
The speaker discussed early struggles with communication and handling pressure from difficult coaches, noting that these failures were pivotal in helping them learn to manage games and interact successfully with coaches.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Crown Refs Podcast

What is The Crown Refs Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A valuable resource for basketball officials striving to enhance their skills and confidence, this podcast explores various aspects of officiating through engaging discussions. The episodes feature insights and personal anecdotes from seasoned referees and mentors, focusing on essential topics such as communication with coaches, game management, and the mental resilience needed to handle pressure. This podcast emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community among officials and offers practical tips to help listeners improve their performance and longevity in the sport. Unique elements such as community-driven skill development camps also highlight the commitment to fostering a culture of growth in officiating.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Crown Refs Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Crown Refs Podcast:

1. The Art of Officiating with Joe Forte
2. The Dale Jr. Download
3. Pardon My Take
4. The Dr. John Delony Show
5. Fore Play

How many episodes of The Crown Refs Podcast are there?

The Crown Refs Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 361 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Crown Refs Podcast?

Recent guests on The Crown Refs Podcast include:

1. Tommy Short
2. Ryan Cadres
3. Brenda Hilton
4. Lisa Mattingly
5. John Blazek
6. Rob Wann
7. Tamara Jarrett
8. Marc Vaccaro

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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