Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac
I was just assigned to my board's rookie mechanics training and evaluation committee. If that seems to satisfy my need to keep some skin in the officiating game, I may also be ready to get off the court.
I have a consultation with a foot/ankle orthopedic specialist next week to see if my painful bone spur can be fixed. If not, it will be another year of middle school games, or no games at all, for me.
If my ankle can be fixed, and if I can get my varsity schedule back (I voluntarily gave it back two seasons ago), I may consider a few more years on the court.
While I like doing middle school games (I was definitively needed and appreciated for doing these mid-afternoon games), I didn't "like like" them.
I missed the camaraderie of four officials, including at least two veteran officials, at a site for a junior varsity game and a varsity game, observing each other's games, discussing the games, and catching up on our personal lives.
Middle school games here are just stand alone single games. These schools often lack secure dressing areas, and do not have shower facilities available, so it's more of a come dressed, get in, get out, and get paid situation.
For the young'uns (poor audio quality):
https://youtu.be/moeY_ZGWD5o |
Hell, I never intended for Officiating to be anything other than a way to stay connected to the game after I couldn't play anymore...(lateral movement is just not fun for me).
I still work Middle School during the week and Freshman and JV ...Our Middle School games here in Indiana are 2 games, typically. Most places have a dedicated room for the Officials...sometimes a shower, sometimes not. But I'm working close enough to my house that it might only be 15-20 minutes drive home so that's not terrible.
As many games as I coached and officiated in the Sunday youth travel league my kids were a part of when they were younger...I didn't want to deal with the parents any longer...I was the Dir of Bball Operations for a new Varsity Coach at our HS a few years ago...helping him with his feeder program and the youth "travel" teams...One of our own parents (who didn't seem to know who I was when wearing stripes) decided to go there with me during game...she shut down quickly when the Asst Coach walked over to her and told her what my role with the HS program, that her daughter was playing for, was...Too many idiots in the stands at the youth games.
Truth be told, I love officiating but I love Coaching even more and helping kids better themselves as people and players. My next stop will be to try to get on with a school staff, likely Middle School....my FT job is just not conducive to 315p practices...and that's why I typically Coach in travel leagues or AAU in Spring...