[JRutledge]

Matt,

Of course I cannot speak for your situation. But the officials that advance that I have seen or get opportunities are the ones that are willing to travel or go to many camps. Associations that I have seen almost have no assigning influence (at least one over the other). I think that is mainly because no assignor that I work for in the Chicagoland area, is tied to any association. I work for different guys that hold their own camps, make their own evaluations and get recommendations from officials all over the area. Unless you work directly in the City of Chicago and belong to the COA or MOA (I belong to both. Got 3 games from the MOA last year), your involvement in those associations might be the only ones that might have a requirement of membership to do the Chicago Catholic League or the Public League. If you do games in the Suburbs, it is just a matter of travel. All the conferences around where I live are all assigned by individuals that get their own people. You do not need to belong to an association or any particular group to work varsity in those conferences.

I moved to Chicago about 4 years and walked into 2 Person games varsity games in the Suburbs. All I did was go to various camps and show what I had. Of course I gave background of games and places I worked, but I got varsity games after that summer I attended camps. I had not even join an association yet or "got in with the big dawgs."

Politics is everywhere. You will never avoid that.

Peace