Frustrated

[BoomerSooner]

To the OP, there a few other things you might consider as well:

1. Is there possibly an ulterior motive behind the assignments? For example, are you being assigned with newer officials that could benefit from your experience? Are you being assigned to games that where the product isn't particularly pretty because other less experienced officials have failed to manage the game properly. Even if the reason you're getting these games isn't obvious, look for something adds a little more of a challenge for you.

2. Is you assignor possibly still concerned about your health? You mentioned that your assignor expressed concern when you returned last year, but I couldn't ascertain if you meant he was concerned about your performance or health. You said he assured you he didn't have a problem with you, but that doesn't indicate to me that his concern has gone away either. If his concern is about your health, he may still worry that higher level games, which can be faster paced, may be too much for you. His motivation may not be to hold you out of those games due to a lack of speed, but for fear of how your health might be impacted. If there is any chance that is the case, I'd recommend discussing that with him and being as open as you can with him about your health status. It may be that simple, or he may be concerned enough to want some kind of a statement from your doctor.

3. Lastly, there is simply the issue of maybe other guys have improved to the point of surpassing your skill level. This doesn't mean you are suddenly a bad official. From a statistics perspective, if you take a group people with IQs ranging from 115 to 145, the people with IQs between 115-130 will be the dummies of the group. Mix this group back into the general population where the 115-130 range is a standard deviation from the normal range, and these people are once again on the top end of the scale. If your assignor identified 15 guys that improved their ratings from the previous year, it is possible they've earned the opportunity to get those games. It doesn't mean you aren't still a good official or that you are being held back by your age, weight or speed.

I'll leave you with this last thought...the only way you'll ever get an honest understanding of what is going on is by talking with your assignor. The key to that conversation though is to go into it with pure intentions. If you go into it with the belief that you are being discriminated against because of size, weight or age, that bias will shape the conversation. Ask your assignor if you can schedule some time to talk (face to face is best), let him know what you perceive and how you feel (don't blame, just explain) and then give your assignor an opportunity to respond. Listen with an open mind and be prepared to acknowledge and accept that he may see the situation differently because each of you have different perspectives on the matter because you are invested differently. After hearing him out, you can explain the change you'd like to see (e.g. you being assigned to higher level games or better communication on why you're getting assigned certain games) and then ask him what you can do to help make that happen.