[WinterWillie]

When I was in (state omitted), the association would "choose" their top 16 officials. EVERY NIGHT of the playoffs, they would start with #1 and work down until all the slots were filled. Every year, the same officials would be listed 1-16 for the most part and if you were below 16 you simply wouldn't get a single post-season game. Some officials would work multiple games in each round based on the scheduling.

Who does that serve, exactly, besides the people who somehow find their way at the top of the list? If you were a transfer official, you could be one of the best officials in the world and you wouldn't be able to crack that list for YEARS until people on the list stated retiring.

The Top 16 was heavy with college officials who would work VERY FEW HS games until the playoffs and people who would've done the sport a great favor by retiring 10 years earlier.

Rich [/B][/QUOTE]

This sounds all too familiar to my state which brings up another one of my concerns. My state uses 2-man mechanics during the regular season and in the post season they use 3-man mechanics. What a joke! (It is a absolutely a nightmare working with someone who is not familiar with 3-man mechanics in that type of game.) In addition to this, my association will not assign a full schedule of varsity games to new members until they have worked between 13 to 15 years in their association thereby limiting the number of officials that would be qualified to move into the post season. And, if for some reason (let's say you move, our boards require that you live in the towns they serve) you transfer from another board, you lose all seniority and are assigned to all lower level games in that area. Of course, if you know someone, all of the rules change. I've seen a tremendous loss of talented officials because of these tactics and have worked with a number of officials who, as you say, who would have done the sport a great favor by retiring 10 years earlier.