[LarryS]

A few comments (may get me in trouble but what the he!!)

An official does not have to work a varsity game between the top two teams in the state to have an intense and exciting game. I stuck around after a couple of games I called a few years ago to watch the son of a close freind play. It was a 8th grade game between two skilled and well coached teams...both were undefeated and the winner played for the city championship. There were about 500 people crammed in the small gym and most of the time you could barely hear yourself think. Largest lead was 4...game won on a last second 3. Since then, I have been to several dozen HS varstiy games with nowhere near the crowd and a much more docile environment. So let's don't poo-poo someone's "big night" because it doesn't fit your definition.

For the most part, the senior people hear appear to be great officials...I say that even though I have not seen them work. They appear to have excellent rules knowledge, and I assume they are good at applying those rules and managing the game. However, just because you know the rules does not mean you can apply them or that you are a good official.

On the other end of the spectrum, just because someone has been calling games for 10+ years does not make them someone to be listened to and admired. In my area, it is possible for an official with 3 years experience to be calling a mostly varsity schedule for 2A and 3A schools (largest schools are 5A). It is very hard, however, to "crack" the group that gets the 5A games...unless you know someone. I have stayed to watch the varsity guys work many times at all size schools. I see some at 3A games that, in my "inexperienced" opinion, are much better than some of the old guys (in years) trying to handle the 5A games. I have heard some of the "old guys" comment, almost with pride, at the fact that they have not opened the rule book in years, consistently score in the low 80's on the test and still get the "big games". Do you really want a new official to follow their example?

Guess the point I am trying to make is that this is a public disussion board. Anyone is free to post their thoughts and opinions (until the moderators ban them). Post should be treated like comments from veterans...use what you can, ignore the rest.