[LarryS]

In my opinion, the only reason to quit given in your post that you are not having fun.

We all officiate for different reasons, and I think one off the reasons all of us do it is because we love doing it. In my first year in my association I worked 8 varsity games (4 at the 2A level, 4 at the 3A level...Texas schools go up to 5A in size). However, I had been officating independantly for 2 years and had called a couple hundred games. I also went to every camp available in the area. That gave me a chance to work in front of the "powers that be" in the association and the assignment secretary got to watch me work a lot (even worked a couple of camp games with him).

I also started officiating when I was 42. Many of the things that make you successful in business translate well to officiating. I understood that appearance and attitude were important. I knew how much dependability, flexibility and willingness to help out regardless of the level were valued...because I value those in my business life. I had also developed the interpersonal skills needed, I just needed to learn how to apply them in the environment of a basketball game.

Those are things that can only be developed over time. IMO, that is why it takes a few years for officials to get the higher level games. In some ways, our situations are the same. I had to take last year off. During that time, the assignment secretary changed and this person does not know me nearly as well nor has he had a chance to see me work. Accordingly, I have only worked 2 varsity games this year. I understand I have to develop some capital with him before he is going to put me in more varsity games and I am fine with that...but then, because of my age when I started there is no reason to have aspirations beyond a decent high school varsity schedule so I do not view it as a serious set back.