[Back In The Saddle]

Sounds like we've got a lot in common. In my younger years I worked baseball and football. My first varsity football assignment came during my first year. I was working high school baseball while I was a junior in high school. In baseball and softball I was working state and regional tournaments in my second or third year. I was in demand and my calendar was always full.

Then I caught the bug and started doing basketball. Oh my! It is a different world. I worked my tail off. I worked every game I could beg, many for free. I went to camps. I bought the new gear (thankfully basketball gear is a lot cheaper than baseball). I joined a gym and hired a trainer. I studied the rules. I did all of this before my first year of HS basketball. I was ready to rock and roll.

But my expectations had been set by my experience with other sports. I got my first schedule and it had a grand total of 3 games. All freshman and sophomore. Mostly girls. The next schedule had 4! Woo hoo. If I remember correctly, I was assigned exactly 10 games last year. Was I ready to quit? You bet I was.

But the problem wasn't so much with me -- it was with my expectations. This isn't baseball or football.

I stuck it out, and was willing to take this new challenge on its terms. I began paying my dues. I went to the camps. I began meeting the people that mattered. I was ready, willing and eager to take turnbacks on a moments notice. I kept my bag packed and in my car and IMed the assignor several times each week. I began hanging around to watch the varsity officials. I talked to many different people and tried to get an idea of what I should really expect.

Oh, and I got better. I look back now and understand that last year I didn't even realize how weak I really was. I expect that next year I'll look back on this year the same way.

This year, my schedule has improved immensely. I'm literally having to tell assignors no because I don't have any more room in my schedule.

I think what people have said about quitting if it's not fun is probably right. But before you pull the trigger, try to accept basketball officiating on its terms. Happiness is not in getting what you want, it's in wanting what get.