[ChuckElias]

I can only relate my own experience; but my experience reflects exactly, and I mean exactly, what Rut has said. I'm 5'7", 162 lbs and the first time I went to camp with the hope of impressing a D1 assignor, this is what happened. . .

First day of camp, the assignor stresses that he is there to teach officiating, not to hire officials. He hopes to tell guys what they need to do to reach the "next level", whatever that means for each official. He looks right at me and says, "Now you, you need to grow another 6 inches". First day!

Well, for the rest of camp, I worked as hard as I could and I had a good camp, but that comment gnawed at me. So on the last day, I went to the assignor and asked him point blank how badly my lack of height would hurt my chances at ever cracking D1. He said (as close as I can remember it), "It used to be that if you were a 6'3" athletic black guy who could run, you'd be a home run. Everybody hired those guys b/c it was the look they wanted. But now, they're more interested in whether you can call the game well and consistently. Five, eight years ago you probably wouldn't have had a shot. Your chances are better now."

So just to mirror what Rut said, the look is important; but not as important as "Can you call a game?" Again, that's just my experience.