Just wondering how the idea of fast-tracking retired players through the officiating levels fits with you guys.

Depends on the player.

From what I've seen the player's who make the best officials tend to be the same ones who make good coaches, the gym rats who needed to know the game to play.

The star players, from my experience, have a more difficult time reffing the defense and not bailing out the shooter on every call.

Playing the game helps but it's far from making it a sure thing that they'll make good officials.

I am against the idea of fast-tracking anybody in officiating just because they played the game. I be an official has to learn to walk before he can run. No some people can learn to walk faster than others and that should be a consideration when moving an official up the ladder. But no a person should not be moved up or started at a higher level because of the officials background.

MTD, Sr.

About as well as the idea of fast-tracking retired officials through the playing levels does.

if u have played the game you probably have a better understanding of what is going on and what the players are trying to do and you have a great idea of what they will try to get away with and what to look for....i moved up rather quickly with some help from the college coaches, i only called 2 yrs of high school before moving into the college level, it's all in how fast you pick stuff up and want to work at it...but PLAYERS DEFINITELY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE WITH GETTING STRINGS PULLED!!

Fast Tracking?
 

Although I hate it, fact is though, it's pretty commonplace.

Time for a story:

We had a guy join our board years ago who was a local star. He had went off to college and somehow didn't quite make it. He comes back "home" and decides to referee.

During his first year, he gets what any other first year guy gets, which is a lot of sub varsity level games.
Three quarters through the year at a meeting of the ratings committee that I happened to be part of, a senior member of the board commented to me that so-and-so was just doing great and he was the highest rated JV official on the board.

I said, this may be true, but have you looked at his schedule? Come to find out, as I pointed out all his games were at his former gym or in his former city. Note that in this city, there were only two schools, so he never worked in any game outside the city.

Now, I said to this senior member, don't you think it odd that his ratings (especially coaches) are so high given the fact that he is officiating at the very gym where he was a standout player just a few years ago? This member looked at me kind of funny shrugging his shoulders.

Next year, I was removed from the rating committee. I was never told. Only found out when our yearly directory came out and saw that my name was not listed as part of the rating committee.

Now, I did work with this individual several times and I can vouch for the fact that he was not the best JV official nor was he even in the top 10 IMO. But as they say, it ain't what you know, it's who you know.

I have seen this trend in the Pro's too, and often wonder how many good guys are being passed over because this person was a great player. What is worse, is that when Joe Star screws up, he will never be held accountable becasue he is still looked at like Joe Star. His partner(s) will always be the fall guys.

goose