[Back In The Saddle]

I have come to realize that there are two aspects to an officiating career: improvement and advancement.

Both are important. Both have to be managed. Improvement has a tendency to positively impact advancement. But improvement on its own will not guarantee advancement.

There are things you must actively pursue to improve: camps, evaluations, practice, study, watching film, working lots of games, etc. We all know what these things are, and if we're serious, we do them.

As for advancement, there are things we must actively pursue here too. They include being seen, becoming known to the people who make decisions, and generally managing our own image. Every area is different, so it's important to learn what the path to advancement is for your area. Then get on that path and start walking.

Be genuine. Be patient. Be happy for others when they move up. Be ready. Be humble. Be grateful.