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Originally posted by Rick Vietti
Rut - I also lived in Illinois for 9 years before moving to Nevada. During that time I put officiating on hiatus because of many reasons (kids, job) but also that it seemed tough to work in Illinois. I originally moved from California which has a similar system to Nevada's.
I lived in a small town (Pontiac) and from talking to guys around there, you had to go out and hustle games for yourself. By hustling, I mean the schools did not go to any specific assigner but officials solicited their own games/contracts.
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It might be difficult if you come from a place that belong to an association that did everything for you. But for those that have officiate our entire career, no major problems here. With any system there are +s and -s.
Quote:
Originally posted by Rick Vietti
Is the only purpose of your joining these multiple associations for training and networking purposes?
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For the most part, yes. There are a couple of associations that can get you games, but that is not that common.
Quote:
Originally posted by Rick Vietti
If you get training material from Bloomington and assignments from assigners for conferences, then what is done with the dues you pay your association?
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I do not think I said that all the training material came from Bloomington or the State office. Most of what we get in training, is directly from the NF itself. And I think most would agree that officiating is much more than what you get from the NF in any sport. So being a member of an association helps train you, discuss situations and learn what is expected from state through officials that have accomplished playoffs, college and sometimes pro ball. Many associations go over the test. All associations that I know have at least one IHSA Clinician in their association and they might run the meetings with mechanics and game management training. Many associations do run their own Certified Clinics during the year as well.
Quote:
Originally posted by Rick Vietti
Otherwise I see no benefit to join an association. It seems in the Illinois system it is better to know as many assigners as possible or in the down state area as many AD's as possible.
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Where do you think assignors come to get officials to work for them? Well it is not the local watering hole (even though that would not be a bad place to look
). I do not know many basketball associations that meet during the season, so this is the time when assignors come to introduce themselves to get newer and younger officials to work all the lower level games and to make contacts with the varsity level officials. And when officials or assignors need replacements for games, the associations have a database of officials qualified to fill the games. So the assignors might call a particular association for a fill in or for recommendations of who might help them out. The more experienced officials make presentations on a topic, which I have done more than once in the assocications I belong to and we discuss many aspects of what we do as officials. In many times we get D1 officials and assignors to attend meetings or banquets to enlighten the members on what it takes to go to that level. There are so many reasons I could not even list them all. But not belonging to one or attending the meetings on a regular basis, usually can hurt you more than it helps.
Peace