Keeping new officials?

[Big Sarge]

Ak ref SE, I think that you need to look first at the personality of your recruits. Can they take criticism without taking it personally? We all say "yes" when asked but not too many people can really do it. Second, how are they approaching the role of officiating? Is it a job or is it a challenge that they strive to improve at?
It's easy to blame other, more experienced officials who may have been all business and not thrown out enough warm fuzzies to the FNG's. I am a rookie official in Fairbanks and am grateful to every partner I have had. Even if they didn't say very much to me I always learn from watching them. Our assignor does a good job of matching up new guys with experienced ones. We have had some good training sessions that pay big dividends as well. I'm sure most associations do the same, but bottom line is that the person has to want to be there as well as improve every day. Even if they aren't calling.