[LarryS]

It seems to me, from reading the replies related to the topic, that a good case could be made for both game management ability and play calling ability. If you have the desire to move into the upper levels of officiating, why would you not try to find out what the evaluators at your target level place the emphasis on and make that the area in which you concentrate your efforts? That applies in every area. You can be the best game manager ever to walk the earth, but if you want to work in XYZ Conference and their evaluator thinks game management skills are irrelevant you are SOL.

Guess it depends on why you officiate. Personally, I do it because I enjoy it. Have no desire to ever go higher than HS varsity and my officiating goal is to be the best I can possibly be given the time I can put into the craft after tending to God, my family and my profession (in that order). I can be happy officiating no higher than 8th grade if necessary. Therefore I am going to work on both areas and let the chip falls as they may. If evaluators think I am unfit for HS varisty, I couldn't care less (the assignor I worked for this last year respects my ability and has committed to keep using me).

Besides, being good at both are not mutually exclusive.