Quote:
Originally posted by Red Neck Ref
First year official and you're going to be doing high school already? Are you doing any lower level games? Some guys start out at the bottom and work their way-up.
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Don't worry about this advice. My first game was Boys 9th grade. A game I called rookies night out. My partner had one game under his belt and I had none. The coaches, one had one game and the other had none. We had fun and got through the game without anything stupid happening. Some places you work your way up others you start at the top. Where I am now, I worked some 1a varsity games with rookie officials. We had a good game and they did a wonderful job. Not perfect but I got better results then with 20 year vets.
The thing I say to rookies is relax. Call your game. Find a mentor. I looked for advice from everyone I could find. I had my mentor that I could call anytime to hash out ideas with. Then at the game site, if there was someone there who knew more than I did, I was all ears. I listened intently to what they had to say. I am now in my sixth season and I can honestly say, I am still learning.
How long before college or pro? That all depends on you. I know of an official who called a regional playoff game after two years. I know people who after five years have a division III college schedule. Of course I know people who have officiated for 15 years and still don't have a solid varsity schedule. It all depends on the individual. Thea area of the country he is. How fast he is willing to submit his ego, and learn from someone who is where he wants to be. After six years, I still don't have a college schedule. Why? I have not been able to stay in any one place and have not gone to the right camps.