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Originally Posted by JRutledge
I have probably worked in more parts of Illinois than most. For example just this month I have already have worked in Plainfield (not school but town), Arlington Heights, New Lenox, Canton, was scheduled to work in Glen Ellyn but game was snowed out. I also worked in Blue Island, then Aurora the next day and this week I was in Nauvoo on Thursday and Abingdon on Friday. And that is just this month. By the end of the year I would have worked as far north as Harvard and as far south as Quincy. I will tell you, I am not the typical "in guy" that got to where I did by just knowing people. I go to about 5 camps a year almost every year, I did not start officiating in the Chicago area, but the very first year I moved to this area I received varsity games. I even worked in a couple of conferences that I was told it would take years to get into because I did not have the history working JV and freshman ball. If you are holding on to that "ole boy network" excuse that is perfectly fine with me. I have seen many people that are not in that “system” get games and get very good games because they were seen at the right camp (which anyone can pay to attend) and because they did the right things to prove they could work the games and were willing to work the games that were given.
And if after all of that you still think their is an ole boy network system, then you need to call me on the phone or email me and we need to talk specifics about this issue and I can give you example after example of how this is not the case and why it is not the case.
Peace
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Jeff
No matter how many individual examples you have, such as yourself, who has earned his schedule through camps, hard work and above all good officiating, there are many more who have strictly by longevity been assigned to games that quite frankly are over their capabilities. At one point in their careers they may have earned those games, but like a tenured college professor, once you're in....... you're in. The statement 'if someone is doing it better, they will find them to do games' I find is altruistic at best.
Assignors neither have the time or inclination to seek out the very 'best' officials. Familarity over the years with officials who have become personal friends would and does make it very difficult to support your position and that's not a gripe, just reality.
Of course there are minimal additions and subtractions to an assignor's 'stable' every year, yet within that core are many officials for a myriad of reasons have not earned nor deserve the schedule they receive.
That said, the system is not patently flawed, it's just the way it is.
I liken it to Chicago city hall politics and patronage, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, I doubt I will change your mind, and I know you'll never change mine.
Curious, when you moved here from another area, did you have an introduction from an ex-assignor or did you just show-up blind at camps?
More credit to you for the latter if that was the case.