Mentor/Mentee Program

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by sdoebler

Well that is part of the point why I was asking about the mentoring program that is in place here and how to better it, not how you assign or become an official.

The shortage of officials is nation wide and I have never heard the reason being the requirements to become an official. I don't know of any pre-requisites to become a middle school official but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

At least here, if you are not a licensed official with the state, most schools do not want officials to work their games. We even have an Elementary School Association that works with most of the state, to work their postseason you must be an IHSA licensed official. Again that is partly because you have to take the test, get a background check and even have insurance to work those games. I guess someone could theoretically assign you a game without such requirements, but not likely if you are not listed on the IHSA Directory. That would put you out real quick. And in basketball we have over 5000 officials statewide, someone will do those games regardless of other things. Maybe in a sport like Track or Volleyball, we might not have those requirements, but in basketball, it is so frowned upon that it is not very likely.

Peace