To the Virginia officials ...

[grunewar]

I live in NVA and am in a very large Association (I caveat my comments by stating I am not on the Board and am stating what I observe, not what I know as exact fact).

IMO, it's tough to crack then V ranks here as there are a great many seasoned HS/College Officials in our ranks and not many vacancies to fill annually. We have a good many eager, young, good officials waiting for their opportunity. It's competitive. No shortage of officials here.

We have an extensive evaluation process for the junior officials and a camp (based on evaluations) to allow the F/JV officials to work their way up the ranks. Once these officials move up, they become "swing officials" - getting a game here and there when an opening happens due to a lot of games, illness, turn-back, etc.

We do get transfers in who are evaluated in the annual scrimmages, and if capable, can move right on in. I don't know how often it happens though, depends on the amount of openings I suppose. One of my partners last Tues (opening night) was a transfer from Texas and he had a BV game right out of the shoot.

I believe our officials are brought along at a fair pace (I'm sure if you asked some jr officials they would say it's too slow), and are seldom over their heads or thrown to the dogs at the V level due to a lack of capable officials.

[Raymond]

Need a location.

Seems plausible. I went from doing my first CYO game on Dec. 8, 2012 to having 61 varsity games this year in my fourth season, all from working tons of summer ball and attending every camp I could find. That and reading The Official Forum.

[Valley Man]

By that description ... doesnt sound like anyone we have here in the Shenandoah Valley

[Adam]

The real test will be to see his schedule next season.

[letemplay]

In some of the rural more spread out areas, they have had a tough time getting quality refs over the last several years when the move from 2 man to 3 along with the fact that Class A and AA girls bball was moved from fall to winter, coinciding with boys seasons. Too many games on same nights depletes the roster. The "better" refs get the better games and the others are left with the less experienced officials. Travel costs can sometimes exceed game fees, so some of the older, more experienced have just called it quits. Getting into one of these areas with any kind of ability could land you some varsity assignments quickly, although as someone else said, it will be obvious if a person is not ready for that level and he might get bumped back to JV to clean up some stuff.

[BatteryPowered]

At our last association meeting we were being lectured by the assignor for our blocks and "cherry picking games" (seems quite a few members are members of multiple associations and are turning back games if they get a "better" game from someone else).

Since we are in our first heavy tournament period we have a lot of games to fill. One night there were so few officials available the assignor had to give someone their first varsity game...it was the 4th game he has ever called.

Just depends on the area, the number of games to fill and the pool of available talent.