[Mark Dexter]

I don't have the exact numbers, but it's probably a bit less likely for an official to move up than a player. (Of course, with the current shortage of officials, things might open up in 10-15 years )

The way I look at it, there are a certain # of kids playing varsity ball - each game requiring 2-3 refs. With a smaller number playing in college, you still need 2-3 refs per game, but you have fewer games. It is slightly tougher for refs, though, because (as some have said here before) some refs will work HS varsity and Jr College, or (a few) refs will do NBA and Saturday morning 3rd grader rec ball (why can't I get any of these guys as partners for my intramural games?)