Quote:
Originally posted by zebraman
Just out of curiousity guys, (since I see quite a few young officials on TV reffing D-1 games) what are the guys that are being given full college schedules doing that you aren't doing?
Z
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Here is the down and dirty.
Having a "sponsor" or someone pick up the phone on your behalf is HUGE right now. This goes for getting into a conference and getting an invite to a camp. Let me digress for a minute. If someone invites you to a camp and you have to pay a camp fee - that isn't really an invitation.
I cannot stress enough how being affiliated with the right official is crucial. It can be the difference between building a career and slipping through the cracks.
This process takes years. There are few phenoms; it just doesn't happen very often. Also, I know for a fact that there are major conferences that have no feeder conferences. An official is put into a do or die situation and if you don't cut it after about 5-7 years you are let go. Other conferences have feeder conferences allowing an official to cut their teeth on smaller D1 games.
I know a few officials personally on this board, Chuck being one of them. I know that, like myself, he is waiting for break that unfortunately might never come. In the meantime he is working hard to get better, as am I.
As frustrating as it has been, it is equally rewarding to know where I've come from and where my most recent standing was/is at the camps I've attended. I can leave the game knowing I didn't make it because what I did or didn't do on the court..........but I'm not going anywhere yet! I'm blessed to be in an area where I can work games that will prepare me for what is to come. My biggest concern right now is a bum foot and getting it right by tomorrow night.