ABOUT REFREPS
Our Story
Are you an active sports official? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be one? Well, now is your chance…
For years, we’ve all played sports-related video games like Madden and NBA 2K to see what it’s like to compete as some of the best athletes on the planet. Now, RefReps lets you see the game through the eyes of the third team, the officials! We bring real-world, in-game scenarios, straight to you; anywhere, anytime, so YOU can make the call!
We have designed a technology stack which incorporates numerous angles of “real game” video, including first-person views of the game most have never seen before. Paired with motion tracking, and an educational experience that’s second to none, RefReps puts you in the middle of the game. You can experience, first-hand, what it’s like to make split-second decisions in the heat of the moment— THEN, learn how it’s done properly.
Our team has more than 75 years of on-field officiating experience; from refereeing youth, high school, and collegiate sports; to more than two decades officiating in the NFL— we’ve experienced it all. Now, RefReps is here to help YOU experience it as well!
What We Have Goin' On
RefReps is leading the way for the most innovative approach to officiating education. We already have basketball that provides all the view points needed to optimize YOUR training experience. In 2021 we are creating 5 additional sports, so keep an eye out for soccer, baseball, softball, tackle football, and flag football. Not only will we have the plays you need but we will have some of the best officials in the industry providing you with teaching points that help reassure a strong understanding for the call and the play.
The Team
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Kyle Armstrong
Founder
Favorite Color: RefReps Teal
Top Hobby: Taking things apart and putting them back together/Working on cars/Playing golf
"There has always been a gap in officiating training between learning the "book" and applying that knowledge on the field or court. Officials need in-game experience to succeed, but the pressure of a live content, especially for new or beginner officials, can be extreme when you're first getting started. RefReps provides them the first real, practical opportunity to "practice" anywhere, anytime, without the "noise". RefReps will revolutionize the entire approach to officiating training and bring it up to date for the 21st century!" - Kyle Armstrong
"The most exciting companies create. They give us new ways of living, thinking, or doing business, many times solving a problem we didn't know we had- because we never thought there was another way." - Play Bigger
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Mark Baltz
Chief Financial Officer
Favorite Color: Blue
Top Hobby: Play-By-Play/PA Announcer - Hickory Hall Polo Club
"From the earliest phase of RefReps, our vision has always been to bring products to the officiating industry that can be used to teach, train and assist in any way possible helping officials in their endeavor to constantly strive to improve, which should be the goal of ANY sports official." - Mark Baltz
Always remember that "You can't misquote silence!" - Herm Rohrig
Officials should adopt this philosophy in making their calls - "Make it be there". - Jim Tunney Make all of your calls SOLID.
Nick Brigati
Director of Officiating Education Development
Favorite Color: Orange
Top Hobby: Football Officiating
“While you need to develop a working knowledge of the rules of the game and the mechanics to improve your competence, the most impactful thing you can do for your success is to see plays and learn from them and that’s where RefReps can help you grow your game the most.” - Nick Brigati
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - Plutarch
Brooklyn Cly
Marketing & Social Media Specialist
Favorite color: Pink
Top Hobby: Makeup/Special FX makeup artistry & volunteering at animal shelters
"Everyday technology is improving and changing the way we live our lives for the better. This is happening every day all around us, but the officiating industry has stayed constant for many years. What RefReps is doing is improving and bettering the officiating industry to change it forever."
- Brooklyn Cly
"Success isn't about how much money you make, it's about the difference you make in people's lives."
- Michelle Obama
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Braden Reynolds
Business Operations Specialist
Favorite Color: Green
Top Hobby: Hiking/Traveling
"RefReps is the solution to what may be the biggest issue the officiating industry faces today, being, the decline in retention of officials. The innovative approach to the education RefReps offers not only provides the highest quality of officiating education material but presents it in a way that has the potential to captivate a larger audience and reverse the decline of officials." - Braden Reynolds
“I knew that if I failed, I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.”
- Jeff Bezos
Aaron Brooks
Director of Business Development
Favorite Color: Purple
Top Hobby: Golf
“This is such an incredibly forward-thinking development in the field of sports officiating. The number one thing young officials always hear is, 'you just need to see more plays.', well, this is exactly that! Giving officials all over the world the ability to see live plays from the same angle as what they would see it during a game, and then being able to receive immediate feedback, instruction, and breakdown of the play from the comfort of their living room, is just unheard of in our industry! I can’t wait to see where this goes!” - Aaron Brooks
“Better than 1000 days of diligent study is one day with a really good teacher.” - Japanese Proverb
Barry Wolf
Business Development Specialist
Favorite Color: Baby Blue
Top Hobby: Baseball card collecting
"Become the best training program for new officials but also one that more seasoned officials can learn from." - Barry Wolf
"The Lord is first, my friends are second and I am third." - Gale Sayers
Daniel Drake
Software Engineer
Favorite Color - Blue
Hobby - Learning New Skills/Programming/Cooking
“Every new official faces two challenges when starting out: learning mechanics and play calling. I believe RefReps can solve both of these challenges at the same time. When you step out onto the floor or field for the first time, it can be intimidating. When newer officials have time to practice signals along with seeing plays, it starts building confidence and prepares them for a real game in a setting where the environment isn’t chaotic. I believe this is where RefReps will really shine!” - Daniel Drake
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." - Proverbs 16:3
Brad Sexton
Marketing Support Specialist
Favorite Color - Blue
Hobby - Motorsports/Sim racing/Anything cars
"The officiating industry has not seen anything like RefReps before. Giving officials the opportunity to see plays as they unfold from the eye of an offical truly provides a unique learning opportunity that takes officiating education to the next level. Being able to train like this at home changes the officiating game completely." - Brad Sexton
"Keep Moving Forward" - TJ Hunt
Dr. David Pierce
Strategic Insights Specialist
Favorite Color - Blue
Hobby - Golf
"RefReps will fundamentally change the way officials are recruited and retained." - Dr. David Pierce
“Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." - William Jennings Bryan
Trey Zabona
Business Development Specialist
Favorite Color - Ferrari Red
Hobby - Golf/Traveling/Being outdoors
“Technology has already proven that it has a place in each of our daily lives. Authors used to write books with a typewriter. Phone calls used to be made with a cord and circuit. Officials used to be trained with the traditional pen and paper. RefReps is the solution to the ever changing world of how officials train. RefReps has introduced real time, real plays, and real people making the calls right at the tips of their fingers. There’s no better way to learn how to become an official, or perfect a veteran official’s skills than RefReps." - Trey Zabona
“If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” - Steve Jobs
Evan Kelly
Video Production Specialist
Favorite Color - Blue
Hobby - Building things/woodworking
“Ref Reps allows officials with all forms of backgrounds to learn new skills, hone their craft, or even just enjoy their profession from the comfort of their own home. We work every day as a close knit team to provide an accessible, functional and entertaining way to help all officials be the best they can be." - Evan Kelly
“Never say never because limits, like fear, is often an illusion." - Michael Jordan
Isabel McFarland
Public Relations & Marketing Intern
Favorite Color - Every shade of blue
Hobby - Running
“RefReps is taking advantage of modern technology and utilizing it in an industry that hasn’t seen anything like this done before.” - Isabel
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” - mother Theresa
