[Bob Lyle]

Originally posted by eventnyc
This will be my first year officiating at the Varsity Level. Our Association has a draft system, where eligible lower level officials are introduced to referees in need of crew members. Hopefully, they have had an opportunity to work with you on the lower level and know something about your abilities. After the first meeting, where the eligible officials are introduced, you have a brief opportunity to speak with (interview or kiss up) to the referees. Granted the system isn't perfect, but it seems to work. A week later the draft is held. The lowest rated crew picks first and so on, up to the top. Most of the eligible officials are separated by only hundreds to tenths of a point. Coaches rate officials. The lower level officials are also rated by their varsity level counterparts, when working together on lower level games. There is a mix of the two ratings and your rating is then adjusted accordingly. Which brings me to my point. During my interviews with Varsity Referees, I was surprised to hear from two or three referees the following, "Oh, by the way, we don't throw flags on coaches." Or, "I am the only one that can throw a flag on a coach." Not surprisingly was the fact that the referees who told me that, were rated in the top six out of twenty six. I had an opportunity to be selected by the fourth highest rated crew (which would have guaranteed me a playoff game) and the twenty fourth. I will not be working a playoff game this year! Any thoughts on this? Does your association have similar problems?

I started out in an association like yours. I was delisted after two years because of coach problems before I ever got to the varsity level. That was 10 years ago. Now I work in an association where the other officials control the ratings. It allowed me some time to get the major mistakes out of my game without worrying about what the coaches think.