[ChuckElias]

I don't know if this will be of interest to anyone, but I'm going to throw it out there. Last year around this time, I was accepting congratulations and well-wishes for becoming a USBL official. I was excited and people were excited for me, which I appreciated.

Well, because of the reduced number of officials needed for 2-whistle games, the staff was trimmed this year. Since I only have one season with the league, I was one of many officials who got cut.

This post is not intended to illicit condolences, but rather only to show that every official has his/her ups and downs. While it's disappointing for me not to be working the league this season, I'm not letting it keep me from striving to improve in other ways. I'm trying to line up several D1 try-outs this summmer. I may also attend Coast to Coast (although the money may all go to the try-outs).

The point, mainly for the younger guys/gals, is that this stuff happens to everybody, so don't let yourself get upset over not getting the split V/JV schedule you wanted, for example. Use it as positive motivation. Do a little better so that you're sure to get noticed next time. I got a good break last Spring and a bad one this Spring, but I'm gonna keep pushing. If you got a bad break this season, use it to push yourself this summer to do what you need to do to get to that next level -- camp, hitting the weight room, losing those 10 pounds, whatever.

Again, no sympathy for me. (Like JR's really gonna give me any. . .) I'm just hoping to encourage somebody who may have been discouraged this season.

Chuck