Multi-media network-based communication system and method for training sports officials

A method of providing instruction to facilitate more consistent and correct officiating of games played under defined rules of a sports league comprising:

• a) providing a site on a network establishing a communication link between those with interest in the instruction;
• b) selecting from a game one or more game segments demonstrative of a call made by one or more game officials that has training value;
• c) digitizing the selected game segments into a form for posting on the site;
• and
• d) posting for review on the site the digitized game segments, each digitized game segment being linked to one of a displayed comment and question at least suggestive of an instructional point demonstrated by the corresponding digitized game segment.

A system facilitating more consistent and correct officiating of games played under defined rules of a sports league, wherein the officiating is performed by a staff of league officials, at least some of which travel between different sports venues to officiate the games, comprising:

• a) a site on a network accessible to the staff of officials between the games to review training-related information posted on the site from prior games;
• b) a series of digitized game segments posted on the site, each digitized game segment comprising a video segment from a prior game that demonstrates game action having a call under the rules made by one or more game officials;
• and
• c) a series of comments and questions posted on the site, each comment and question being at least suggestive of a lesson demonstrated by the training-related information from a corresponding digitized game segment.