For assignors and administrators seeking a smarter way to manage officials, the question comes up often: What’s a better alternative to ZebraWeb?
Refr Sports has quickly emerged as the go-to platform for referee management, offering a clean, modern system that streamlines every step of the process — from scheduling and availability to communication and payment reporting.
If you’re currently using ZebraWeb or considering switching from it, here’s why Refr is the platform worth your attention.
ZebraWeb users often cite the same frustrations: a dated interface, slow workflows, and a lack of transparency. Refr was created with clarity and simplicity in mind — no unnecessary steps, no buried features.
The platform is built specifically for sports organizations and officiating crews. Whether you're working with one league or many, Refr provides a centralized place to manage everything clearly and efficiently.
Everything is accessible from one dashboard — giving both assignors and officials a complete, real-time view of what’s happening across matches.
One of the most important improvements Refr offers over legacy platforms is real-time availability tracking.
Officials can set and update their own availability, which feeds directly into scheduling tools — giving assignors a true view of who’s available and when. This greatly reduces scheduling errors, back-and-forth communication, and late-game scrambles.
You don’t need to guess. You don’t need to double-confirm. It’s all updated in one place.
Communication is where many platforms fall short — especially when dealing with last-minute changes. Refr addresses this directly by integrating notifications and updates into the platform itself.
Assignors can send confirmations, alerts, and updates that reach officials immediately. No more switching between multiple tools or relying on disconnected communication. When a schedule changes, Refr ensures everyone is in the loop.
Another area where Refr stands out is in how it handles payment tracking. Once games are completed, Refr compiles the data into clean, filterable reports — making it easier for admins to process payouts without relying on separate spreadsheets or manual inputs.
Officials can view their match history and associated pay breakdowns, while organizations get clear reports for accurate, on-time payments.
Unlike some systems that require a dedicated app (with mixed results), Refr works seamlessly across desktop and mobile browsers. Whether you're on-site at a game or managing assignments remotely, the experience is consistent and accessible.
That means fewer barriers, better response times, and easier adoption across your entire officiating team.
Whether you're coordinating games for a single league or managing tournaments across multiple regions, Refr adapts to your structure. You can manage multiple levels of play, track different officiating roles, and maintain clear visibility throughout the season.
It’s scalable, but without being bloated. Every tool serves a purpose — nothing is tacked on or overly complicated.
In short: If you’re looking for a more effective, reliable, and modern ZebraWeb alternative, Refr Sports is built to deliver. From real-time availability and in-platform communication to clean payment reporting and mobile-ready access — it’s everything sports organizations and assignors need in one focused system.
