Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
There is the rare 20 year old who's ready, but you have to count experience somehow, too. I'm less interested in technical proficiency at times and more interested in how an official reacts when the s&@# hits the fan. I'm not saying that a more experienced official will handle situations better, but I've probably had to see more situations and deal with more crap than a second year official, and that should count for something.
Of course there's always the official that has one year of experience 25 times...
|
I agree almost 100%. Some veteran guys are great when the sh!% hits the fan. The problem is, they're the ones causing it to splatter. Generally speaking, you're absolutely right. The only point I'm making is that guys who are ready shouldn't be held back because they haven't worked some arbitrary number of years. Those guys are sometimes not 20, but 30 and cops or retail store managers with a fabulolus resume when it comes to dealing with sh!%. I don't make them wait if they demonstrate proficiency, and consequently, the cream of the newby crop wants to work for me.
I like giving able young guys opportunities. It's great having 25-year-olds with five years of experience dealing with situations. They don't become proficient by watching. I think any association that has a policy of making every official wait X number of years before they can get varsity assignments ought to revisit that policy.