The eye-opening and inspiring memoir of Shannon Eastin, the first female official for the NFL Shannon Eastin was used to breaking new ground. As a teenager, she was a six-time national judo champion before women were allowed to compete in her sport in the Olympics. Years later, she was the first woman to referee Division I football. But when she set her sights on officiating in the NFL, nothing could fully prepare her for the obstacles that would be thrown in her way. In Lady Ref: Making Calls in a Man's World, Eastin candidly shares the struggles she faced throughout her journey to the pros. Dealing with sexual harassment, apparent sabotage, and blatant misogyny, there were times Eastin wondered if it was worth it, if perhaps it would be better to quit. But a return to her faith would ultimately help her hold onto her dreams, and when the full-time NFL officials were locked out, Eastin found her opening into the pros. Eastin's cap and whistle now rest in the NFL Hall of Fame, a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that went into her groundbreaking rise up the officiating ranks. Her eye-opening story reflects the relentless battles women have fought-and continue to fight-working in fields often perceived as a man's domain, while also celebrating those who have supported these trailblazers in their journeys.
Shannon Eastin is the first female official of the National Football League (NFL) and the first woman to lead a crew at the Division 1 level for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. For 16 years she officiated football games at the high school and college level before making her mark on NFL fields. Eastin is the Director of Officials for the Canyon Athletic Association, where she oversees officiating services for over 200 schools. She mentors and trains officials in football and basketball through her company, SE Sports Officiating, which also assigns officials for youth sporting leagues. Kate St. Vincent Vogl is the author of Lost & Found: A Memoir of Mothers. Her essays appear in best-selling anthologies such as Listen to Your Mother and Why We Ride, as well as in Bellingham Review and Prairie Schooner. She is the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board Grant and a residency at the Anderson Center. Vogl teaches at the Loft Literary Center.
Author's Note 1. Offside? 2. Early Promise 3. A Strict Regimen 4. Sidelined 5. Substitution 6. The Playbook 7. Pregame 8. The Kickoff 9. The Opening Drive 10. Red Zone 11. Illegal Use of the Hands 12. Delay of Game 13. Odds on Favorite 14. Encroachment 15. Personal Foul 16. Charged Time Out 17. Integrity of the Game 18. Unsportsmanlike Conduct 19. My Lucky Charm 20. Making Herstory 21 Living the Dream 22. Game Changers 23. Replay the Down 24. The Final Whistle Bibliography Acknowledgements About the Authors
The eye-opening and inspiring memoir of Shannon Eastin, the first female official for the NFL
I was instantly engaged in Shannon Eastin's provocative and very personal journey to becoming the first female to officiate in the NFL. Her story is equal parts inspiring and maddening-for the constant gender inequity she faced in what remains to this day a male-dominated profession. I found myself rooting for her as she stayed the course and achieved her incredible dream with competence, grace, and professionalism! -- Dana Sparling, executive director, Women's Gridiron Foundation Shannon does an incredible job telling the story of becoming the first female on-field official in NFL history. But, this book is more than just that story. She takes a candid look at how athletics were an important part of her life growing up, and how her parents and faith shaped her into the person who she was then and is now. She discusses rising up through the officiating ranks and the struggles she faced along the way and also after her milestone achievement. She is also open about her personal life and relationships. This book is a must read! -- Ken Crippen, founder and lead instructor at the Football Learning Academy
