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You alone are responsible for your education and training. The routine association meetings going over rules, etc. just don't cut it. To become excellent at officiating any sport, it requires going the extra step and attending camps or clinics. Not to mention reading the rule book and case book every year (at least), taking rules quizzes, studying mechanics procedures, communication with partners. And of course, working MANY games.
There could be a whole new thread on which sport is most difficult. If you think basketball is easiest after two seasons, I would suggest a camp where probably every aspect of your game will be chewed up and spit out by the evaluators. The rules exam for basketball is far more difficult than the baseball exam. The basketball refresher exam can be failed by many veteran refrerees who don't keep up and study. I have seen it happen. You can't just pass a written exam and then improve your ability by just showing up year after year and working a few games. Years mean nothing about quality.
Lastly, I agree that officiating should be fun. But for me, fun is becoming the best official I can become, and eventually work up to the highest level I am capabable of or reasonably desire. Over ten years I have been to four baseball camps and four basketball camps. Each time it has enhanced my skills from major deficiencies early on, to fine tuning and making tiny adjustments at later clinics. I have sacrificed some games to attend these, but in the big picture it has paid off. I would caution Cowboyfan, or anyone, not to be in too big of a hurry to advance. Getting in over your head and screwing up can be detrimental to your reputation. It takes 4 to 5 years to realistically consider yourself "good."
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