Frustrated

[BatteryPowered]

First, sorry for the length of the post. I am getting up there in years compared to most of the officials in our association. As some of you may know, I had to take several years off for health reasons and last season was my first season back. The schedule was about what I expected last year but I did have a few games in, what many in my association would call, the good category. I try to keep my expectations realistic. I am overweight as a result of the health issues and years of having extreme limits on my physical activity but since I was cleared to resume officiating I have lost about half the weight I need to lose and am still losing.

During the off season I attended numerous camps and the majority of the feedback was positive. The most consistent negative comments my lack of athletic appearance and needing to get faster. Face it, like many will never be 6’-6”, I will never be fleet of foot. However I constantly hear I make the calls that need to be made so apparently I have learned to compensate for the lack of speed by getting a good look when “getting beat”.

At my last camp my assignor was there and we visited for a while. I told him that I understood it was in his, and the associations, best interest to put the best officials possible in every game and that if I was not happy with my schedule I only needed to look in the mirror. Then I asked “What two or three things do I need to improve in order for it to be possible for you to give me a better schedule?” He assured me he had no problem with me and that I was on the list of people he wanted to watch during the camp. He also said that he was concerned last year about my return and wanted to see how it went. I noticed him sitting next to the clinician during two of my three games at the camp. In both those games I got rave reviews from the clinician (one that has known me for years even said it was the best work he had ever seen from me).

At our first association meeting the assignor called about 15 names and had those people stand, then told them their ratings had increased because of what they showed at camp. I was not one of them but all of them were young and I figured it was just his way of encouraging newer officials.

Today the first wave of game assignments were released and despite my disappointment I accepted all the games. Honestly, this first wave is “worse” than the first wave last year. I can keep losing weight and keep working out so even after two fast paced boys games I am still “keeping up” as well as others. However, I cannot get younger and cannot get that much faster.

I will see how the remainder of the year’s schedule ends up but if this is an indication I may have to do a re-evaluation at the end of the year. I love officiating…but I have little, if any, desire to leave work early and drive all over a major metropolitan area to work these types of games.

Sorry…just needed to vent.

[CountTheBasket]

I wouldn't get discouraged so soon...there are only so many "good" games, and most of the time an excess of referees that truly deserve them. I myself am a younger official so each season I feel I have improved drastically, and I remember being very disappointed at the first "wave" last season. By the end I had achieved an improved schedule over the prior year, which is all I could ask for. Sounds like you've put in some good work....don't worry that the fouls are 6-1 against your team right now, they always even out by the end of the game!

[BillyMac]

You can't get younger, but you can lose the rest of the weight that you wanted to lose. Keep a positive attitude. The kids, and coaches, in those "B" games, will appreciate a good "A" official.

[jpgc99]

Some of the best games I've ever worked were games that other officials thought were 'beneath them'

Dont let other people's classification of the game determine your level of enjoyment, enthusiasm or effort. For you, it is the best game of the night.

[crosscountry55]

I frequently find myself in your position, except it's because of moving (due to military obligations) rather than injury. Regardless, the lip service paid by assignors during the summer versus the schedule you ultimately get....well, it just sucks. No way to sugar coat it. One day I hope that an assignor will just be honest with me when I'm the new guy and say:

"Hey, new guy, you're pretty good but there are board rules and/or hierarchical sensitivities that leave you with a 0% chance of a varsity schedule unless you can provide proof of a collegiate schedule. Any questions? Oh, and I like your shoes."

In any case, I've come to realize I have no control over my schedule outside of the product I put on the court. So I put the best product out there that I can every time, regardless of level. And I have fun doing it. Most epic game I ever worked was a varsity game, but #'s 2, 3, 4 and 5 on my all time list were 8th grade/frosh/JV/5th grade (AAU). Lots more varsity games that I don't remember nearly as well.

It's all about the lens you view your assignment through. If it's fun, keep doing it. When it's not fun anymore, that's ok, but stop doing it.

[JRutledge]

Without seeing you work and compare you to others, really hard to know what is the issue. But it is not uncommon to feel you are better than what others perceive you to be. Also this thing comes with some disappointment on many levels. The best thing I can tell you is to keep working and wait for the entire schedule to come out. Maybe, just maybe that is the worst of the assignments. You also never know until you work the games anyway. Ultimately be patient if it is this year or next.

Peace

[Altor]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

So I put the best product out there that I can every time, regardless of level. And I have fun doing it.

That contest is the most important one of the night for those athletes, those coaches, those parents, and those fans. They deserve my best effort.

[Hartsy]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

It's all about the lens you view your assignment through. If it's fun, keep doing it. When it's not fun anymore, that's ok, but stop doing it.

I am struggling with this now. I will start a new thread to elaborate. I love working the games, but the process of getting the games is becoming an anchor on my enjoyment.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The kids, and coaches, in those "B" games, will appreciate a good "A" official.

Well said Billy. We need a 'like' button!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The kids, and coaches, in those "B" games, will appreciate a good "A" official.

You must do not work many of those games.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by CountTheBasket

I wouldn't get discouraged so soon...there are only so many "good" games, and most of the time an excess of referees that truly deserve them. I myself am a younger official so each season I feel I have improved drastically, and I remember being very disappointed at the first "wave" last season. By the end I had achieved an improved schedule over the prior year, which is all I could ask for. Sounds like you've put in some good work....don't worry that the fouls are 6-1 against your team right now, they always even out by the end of the game!

I sent you a PM.

[Rich]

I've talked to some officials over the years who fill in open dates with freshman or JV games.

It's fine if that's what they want to do....but some will think of those officials differently than if they only work varsity games.

So, OP, what levels do you work and what do you see as the schedule you want?

[jpgc99]

Originally Posted by Rich

I've talked to some officials over the years who fill in open dates with freshman or JV games.

It's fine if that's what they want to do....but some will think of those officials differently than if they only work varsity games.

So, OP, what levels do you work and what do you see as the schedule you want?

Yes, I'd like to know this answer, too. My original understanding was that you are working a full varsity schedule but are unhappy with what you perceived to be "less important games." My response reflected that understanding. I might have a different response if you tell me you worked all varsity last year and now are working middle school...

[BatteryPowered]

Originally Posted by Rich

I've talked to some officials over the years who fill in open dates with freshman or JV games.

It's fine if that's what they want to do....but some will think of those officials differently than if they only work varsity games.

So, OP, what levels do you work and what do you see as the schedule you want?

Just work at the HS level. Before I had to take those years off my schedule was 75-80% varsity, mostly at public schools but some private, with the remainder sub-varsity at the better programs in our coverage area.

Last year (my first back) it was just under 10% varsity...at schools that would struggle to stay close to a JV team at the better programs...and the remainder sub-varsity scattered all over (several of them involving schools that were just starting to play basketball). With the first release, I have one varsity in the twelve games and the sub-varsity includes 4 freshman/JV double headers. I had none of those last year as my sub-varsity was Boys/Girls double headers. As for what I want...half and half would be great. In fact, I might even be giddy given everything I have been through.

Hey...it is what it is. I can either grit my teeth and work or log into Arbiter and uncheck "Ready".

I'll stop whining now.

[runonmt]

As you can likely tell, a long term reader in the forum, almost non-existent poster. Primarily because I don't post unless I have something significant to contribute. I can relate to your being frustrated, and comments of the assignor being disingenuous. The other stuff, not so much. I've been officiating high school bball for 15 years with one varsity assignment. The person most responsible for that is . . . . me.

I started late at 48 and that put me at a big disadvantage. Others may disagree but I'm a realist and age should play a part both in development and assignments. By the time I felt I was actually ready to work a varsity game, I was 52. Way too late for any assignor managing hundreds (maybe even thousands) of varsity contests to start looking at me as someone who should be given the opportunity over those much younger. (I have always been, and still am very physically fit, tall, slim and well groomed - so that's never been an issue). Nor did I have the time or inclination to get close to established officials or play association politics that may have helped influence an assignor. (It sounds like you may have done that at one time so you might rekindle that if possible.)

I've been to the assignors camps, have always received great ratings from state evaluators and an excellent rating and review from one of the assignors own evaluators with a recommendation that I was qualified to work varsity games. Never happened.

Was I disappointed? Yes, very. Do I understand it? Yes, absolutely. You really can't expect an assignor to delay the development of younger officials who are capable and ready to work varsity contests. Or to give leaner schedules to those who have proven varsity experience. It's just a reality in officiating like anything else. It was unfortunate that you had health issues and you may have been a good varsity official. But you did have the long term break, others have moved up and you're not going to get many if any varsity assignments in the future. In fact, like me, your schedules are likely going to get worse, not better.

Bottom line. I got into this because I love the game of basketball. Played high school/college ball, coached my kids, watched my kids in high school and college (why I started officiating late so I didn't miss any of their games - don't regret it). I love that I can still be a part of the game, even if it's only Freshmen, Sophomore and JV games. I look forward to it, enjoy being part of it and have fun with it. I'll do it as long as the body allows. My advice to you is: Be disappointed, and even frustrated if you want because you're not doing varsity games. But recognize that part of your officiating life is likely over. If you don't enjoy the games you are getting, and what comes with them, stop doing them . . . . . just my two cents.