About Me

Ref Training School, LLC, is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The mission of RTS is to recruit, train and assign individuals interested in learning to become sports officials while promoting a superior code of ethics, morals and professionalism. RTS currently is offering guidance and instruction exclusively for becoming volleyball and basketball referees; however, in the future, RTS intends to also offer instruction for those interested in officiating other sports.  While Ref Training School is open to anyone 18 years of age and older seeking to become a referee in Indiana, the vision of RTS is to guide more females and minorities toward becoming licensed and active sports officials who will referee from the elementary-school level all the way up to the professional ranks. Our goal is to change the “face” of sports at every level so that it more closely represents the population of those playing the game.

Ref Training School involves five weeks of classes taught by experienced referees Crane and Tonya Hearn. Each of the five classes lasts 3 hours. While we do spend time in the classroom learning the rules, the “ins and outs” of officiating, and preparing for the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) licensing exam, a majority of our time is spent on the court learning the mechanics and positioning involved in refereeing, increasing your game confidence. The cost to attend RTS is $250 per person, which includes all classroom and training materials, and a minimum of 25 hours of live, on-court training. Participants are required to take the IHSAA test to become a licensed official in the State of Indiana.

RTS owners Crane and Tonya Hearn have over 35 years of combined officiating experience with licenses in basketball and volleyball. Crane is a graduate of Elmhurst High School and Carthage College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Tonya is a graduate of North Miami High School and International Business College with an Associates Degree in office administration. Both Crane and Tonya have college officiating experience, and Crane has experience officiating with the D-NBA and the ABA. The Hearns are also independent referee assigners with various schools and organizations. Due to their many connections, they will assign/refer RTS graduates to local games and scrimmages. This will provide practical experience in sports officiating in preparation for a future career as a referee.