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I think at the root of the discussion is the difference between a lead official (an R) and just a very good official. I have worked for 3 years (around 1000 games total) and the more I work the more I feel I need to work on experience type things, such as handling coaches, unusual situations. Good officials can rise quickly through the ranks, I've seen some go to the college level very quickly, and in my 3rd year I made the state tournament level in HS. There's a big difference between being able to call these types of games, and being able to officiate them. A lead official, a great official, has the ability to not only referee the game, but manage the game and manage the officiating crew in, and ultimately be the guy who is accountable when everything's on the line. These skills can only come with experience and by being mentored by others who have the experience. When I think of an experienced official, I think of someone who, at that level of the game has the skills to be the R. That means an experienced ref at a MS, JV, V, Playoff, JC, D1 or NCAA tourney game has a different skill set.
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