I recently read in our local newpapers that HS officials are desparately needed in almost all sports. I really would like to "expand" my horizons and get into other sports (I do softball).

Having never played nor watched much basketball, would I be foolish to try my hand a "officiating" this sport? Being of "challenged" in the height department I never really had an interest in the sport so I'm really starting from scratch regarding rules, positions, etc.

Thanks for your input. I don't want to get into something that wouldn't make much sense for me or for the players/coaches.

Go for it. I think the best officials in one sport are usually multi-sport officials. Or at least they have some background in more than one sport. You might find that you become a much better softball umpire by working in basketball.

Peace

Don't let your height be a factor. There are some great basketball officials that were very noticeably vertically challenged. For instance, when they finally read the roll of great officials up yonder, I'm sure that our own Chuck Elias will be right there listening.

I have a friend that never played one second of basketball in school and now is a D1 official in the Valley.

Good luck SactoBlue.

I can't believe it took more than half an hour for my name to come up in this thread.

Go for it, Sacto.

It's a good way to do good work for kids, get some exercise, meet some great people and get a little walking-around money.

Here's the litmus test for basketball officiating. Go down to the local zoo with a tape recorder. Tape the howler monkeys for one hour. Go home and lock yourself in a small closet. Play the tape at full volume for 2 hours.

If you stay the entire two hours in the closet and then can come out and walk straight, you qualify.

However, if after five minutes, you either have a nervous breakdown and/or wet your pants, it means either you don't have what it takes, or you're French - or both. :p

And several more hours to mention Eli, and my friend here who is a Pac-10 ref, Tom Spitznagel. Not to mention all the highly qualified but vertically challenged women who referee at all levels You're in good company Chuck, and Sacto!

Don't forget to put Rocky on your short list too.

That's a really bad pun, JR. Come on, you're bigger than that ;)

I didn't want to offend him. I'm hoping he'll come and evaluate at my camp in November. And I don't want to give him any excuse to ream me out next summer when he's evaluating me ( I mean besides the lousy reffing.)

I didn't want to offend him. I'm hoping he'll come and evaluate at my camp in November. And I don't want to give him any excuse to ream me out next summer when he's evaluating me ( I mean besides the lousy reffing.) [/B][/QUOTE]Try this, Juulie. Maybe this will help you out with Rocky:
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/respect.gif

Try this, Juulie. Maybe this will help you out with Rocky:
http://deephousepage.com/smilies/respect.gif [/B][/QUOTE]

I don't have that many friends.

PS Would you wanna come and evaluate, JR?