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"Two years and you're getting National Championship Games? Who do you know?
Please don't say its on merit, please.
Don't take this the wrong way, I've been an official going on my 8th year now and had to earn my way up to the HS varsity level. In Phila,Pa. you have to have 3 years on grass to get into the association that schedules catholic league HS games.(and you don't get a varsity game till your 4th year).In the Public League its a little easier(just make a phone call and lie to the scheduler that you have 4 years with an association)you still don't get a Varsity game till about 2 years with the Public League, but you'll get Jv games. P.I.A.A. is the State Association and you have to be there awhile before you can get a Varsity schedule. As for Playoff in any of these games, NO way you'll get a Championship or Playoff game after 2 years of being an official in Pa."
Again don't take this the wrong way, I think its great for you to be getting these games. Im an assigner and wouldn't take a chance of putting a second year official in a HS varsity game. I also wouldn't evaluate a 2nd year official for a HS Varsity schedule unless I heard hes the greatest official anyone has ever seen.(and nobody has ever said that about an official)(haha)
What state are you an official in?
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Sorry HSWH, I should have been more specific about the assignments but didnt feel it necessary for ole Derock . But for you sir, no problem 8^)
Im 46 years old and a member of the Rogue Valley Football Officials Association. We have just over 50 members and are located in Southern Oregon. I worked two games for the Pacific Northwest Regional Pop Warner Championships in Santa Clara Calif. on theNov.23. One of these games was a Regional championship game for Div.1 Pee-Wee (10-12); one was Div.1 Midget (11-15). The Midget game was a semi-final with the winner going to Florida to play in the National Championship Tournament. The IWFL (Independent Womans Football League) championship game I worked on July 6 of this year was played in Ashland Oregon between the New York Sharks and the Texas Outlaws (Austin). This was the first Super Bowl of womans football ever played and despite the fact that it was played by woman it was very exciting and Im proud to have been a part of it. I worked Ump in one varsity game this year for a small AA high school in Glendale Or. This crew consisted of a WH with 30 experiences, LM with 6 years and a LJ working his first game EVER! LOL This official is a Police Officer with over 15 years working baseball. He has one of the best field presents Ive ever seen and am always very happy to be assigned to work with him.
Now, how am I getting these games? Definitely not on merit. Well not on merit alone.
I have no special relationship with the assigner of my association. Ive only known him for the two years Ive been a member. He not only takes into account availability (which I am 24-7) but also preparation when assigning. He takes into account that if youve worked Monday through Thurs and all day Saturday, youre going to be rewarded. This doesnt mean a rookie or two year guy will be working a 4-A game every Friday night. But he will assign to one or two 1A or 2A V games if youve met his criteria for assigning V games.
This has helped shake the more experienced officials out of their complacence and given the less experienced guys more incentive to work harder in their preparation.
My preparation has consisted of one year of studies before I even joined the association. I started visiting all the on-line football official sites in Sept of 2000. I joined an ICQ chat room in Dec 2000 and have studied there almost every night. We get the most die-hard officials from around country .In our group are some of the countrys top High School (active and retired), NFL and Div.1 NCAA officials. My main Mentor is a retired official whose last game was as WH for the 2000 Rose Bowl. He also worked as an NFL replay official. I correspond daily with officials from around the country. I usually do 1-two hours of study daily both on and off the computer year around. I write in my journal and self evaluate after EVERY game. I dress and look as professional as I can both on and off the field. I ask for evaluation after every game from my crew, and when available from the association. Ive received scores of 95 and 93(the 93 was closed book) on the two NFHS tests Ive taken
So as you see, this is a passion in my life. My situation is not the norm and Ive probably progressed faster then most two year officials. Im going to stop now before I need to get a bigger hat size. Besides that I have to study up now and prepare for the bashing Im going to get in tonights chat class 8^)
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