This is what an clinician told me that does D1. He said when you go to camps, evaluators are looking for "why not" characteristics. The more checks you have in the "why not" category, will hold you back. There are so many officials trying to get to the top, if I have more "why nots" then everyone else, it will hold me back.
Now, I am not telling anyone what to do. You have to find your own way. But what Chuck, Dan or Juulie are all trying to convey here, is that this is what we have noticed in our experience. If you have a different experience, then that is OK. But the reality is that in all the sports I officiate, there are things that are frowned upon when we officiate. And when we wear things that are not proper attire, it holds those individuals back until they change it. It really is that simple. I do not make the rules, I just follow them to the best of my ability. I used to wear belted pants and I changed because it was apparant that I was in the minority with the type of pants I was wearing. And believe me, you are judged on much more than what you wear on your pants. The time you show up, the way you handle your contracts, the way you interact with fellow officials. All those things factor in and none of them have to do with making a single call on any baskeball court. All those things I just mentioned have completely held officials back from moving to the next level. I know guys that have not updated there Quickbase (inside joke
) library and that has not gotten them a Freshman game anymore in a particular conference. It may not seem fair, but it is when others are making the decisions. When some of you get to a certain level and you are making the rules, then you can do whatever you think matters. But when you are trying to work or get a game, then you have to listen to what the "Big dawgs" want, your you sit home.
Peace