[ChuckElias]

Brandon, I can't speak for all levels of college ball, or for all areas of the country, so I'll just give you my personal experience, if that's alright.

I work D2/D3 in New England. I belong to the College Basketball Officials' Association (CBOA) and my games are assigned primarily through the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

Originally posted by brandan89
How do you get into it?

It varies. As Rut said, many D1 conferences have try-out camps. In my case, I filled out an application, and had to get 3 recommendations from current CBOA officials. I got accepted into CBOA on an "associate" basis (basically JV games). After a couple years of that, I got "promoted" to varsity. Now, however, you have to fill out the application, but you also have to attend a try-out at a college scrimmage.

The ECAC assigns both men's and women's games. The officials who work the women's games have their own association (not CBOA). There are also other college officials associations in New England, but CBOA is the biggest and covers the most schools.

Do you have meetings?

In my region, we have a mandatory pre-season meeting and an optional mid-season meeting.

How many games a week/month?

How about per season? I get 15-20 games per season (D2/D3) and another handful of juco games. So the number per week/month varies. I had 4 games in December, but I have about 10 in January.

What is the pay?

Juco (2-whistle) $110
D3 (2-whistle) $130 or $135. I can't remember which. . .
D3 (3-whistle) $118.
D2 (3-whistle) $140.
D1 varies by conference, but the minimum is about $400.

Can you call mens and womens?

I don't know anybody who does. I was told by a D1 men's assignor that he can't use anyone who also does women's ball b/c the coaches complain about getting a "women's official".

Does it take up alot of your time?

Again, it varies depending on your schedule. But consider that we're required to get to the game site 1.5 hours before game time. The game takes roughly an hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. Plus, college ball requires a lot more travel (in my neck of the woods anyway) than HS ball. An hour and a half drive is not uncommon. When I go to Vermont, the trip is more like 3 hours. So for a "short" road trip, figure an hour and a half drive each way (3 hrs total), get there an hour and a half early, plus the game. It turns into a 6.5 or 7 hour day. So there goes my Saturday. Either that, or I'm getting home at midnight on a school night.

And that doesn't even include the time and money that I put into camps during the summer, just so I can have a couple drinks with Dan.

Now ask me if I'd give it up.