I will be starting my third year officiating this fall. The last two have been very enjoyable, though my first year was overwhelming at times. By the end of last year I felt very comfortable on the court. I put in the effort and it paid off for me.

I missed my first opportunity (last winter) to become a Class I official (which would allow me to work varsity games. Is that the same in each state?) My question is how would I be perceived by other officials if I do not pursue the move up anytime soon?

It's not that I don't think I can do it, just that I'm not sure I want to. Maybe that will change in a few years, but right now, I enjoy the JV and Freshman games, and can get home early if I choose, or I can hang around for the varsity matchup.

The local association says it would be good to get the Class I, even if I didn't get assigned, or choose to work, any varsity games for a while. I figure I need to follow that advice.

Anyone out there that doesn't work the varsity games for one reason or another? Any other thoughts?

How you are perceived is based on how you present yourself and work your games.

If you do all that is expected of you and work hard at being the best JV official you can be, it should not be a problem if you prefer to work frosh/JV.

The officials that get a bad rep are the ones who come right at game time, grab their check, are in the parking lot before the final horn stops blowing, and don't care if they get better.

You might have to explain to use what "Class 1 official" means. I know something about this because I have talked to people from Ohio, but I am not as familiar with how it relates to working varsity or lower level ball.

If all you want to work is JV ball, there is nothing wrong with that. What happens to many officials that do not want to move up is they do not keep their professionalism. Like was stated, guys I run into that feel that way often come dressed to games, do not use proper mechanics or any subscribed mechanics at all, do not attend camps, do not seek advice or work for more than the money only. This does not apply to everyone of course. But it seems to be the rule and not the exception. We have a promotion process as well and we have officials that never move up through that process. Many officials in your situation might work, but they are not going to get games from certain assignors because they are not considered officials that desire to move up. Now if you are happy with that level of officiating, that is certainly your right. But understand that other officials might work games you will not because you are not trying to move through that process.

Peace

Even if you don't think you want to work any higher, you might as well pursue the Class 1 level. 95% of the officials I met who started out just wanting to do lower level ball eventually got hooked and wanted a bigger challenge. I can only think of one official in our association who doesn't want varsity games and that's because his body is betraying him and he can't keep up anymore.

Z

I am entering my 3rd year, too. [Well, 5th if you count those 2 seasons back in the 1970s]. I am going to a required referee camp to enable me to do varsity games. If you want to do varsity games, then hang for at least the first half of the varsity contest and try to sit in on the halftime talk. You can pick up a lot of good advice that way. Thre are plenty of guys who do not do that and do alot of what Rut said.
We have an old guy [old is older than me] that wears his watch on one wrist, his medic alert bracelet on the other, signals jump balls with his forefingers, never closes in as the trail, calls 3 seconds from mid-court, and many other textbook examples of what NOT to do. [I am willing to cut some slack on the medic alert bracelet.]
Another guy comes in with his shoebag as his duffle as he is completely dressed otherwise and his car is out of the lot before his partner has unfastened his whistle.
Still another, who now thinks he is ready for college ball, is on his cell to his wife during halftime so you cannot go over things from the first half. Pre-game with guys like that? {Think 'Jim Mora" as you say PREGAME}.

Can anybody explain this moving up system? We don't have that in TN. Which it sounds like we do need it. There are so many guys that, I believe, just come for the check, but then again, I don't think we have enough officials for this system. From what I hear it is hard enough to cover games as is. Would love to hear more about this system.

Here in VT, moving up is getting ratings from fellow officials sufficient to be qualified for varsity games. In reality, being seen by as many different varsity officials is important and as we as JV officials also pass along ratings for them, this can become quite competitive for attention. I live in a rural area where not many officials live, so I can get as many JV games as I wish. BUt if I stayed in my own area, I would not get seen by as many officials from the 'seat of power'. So I am venturing out into the more populous areas to do games to be seen by more officials and doing some AAU games to be seen by even more.

Initialy, I thought I would be happy just doing JV & Freshman games. But the competitiveness within me and the desire to improve has me setting my sights higher than they were initially. I don't see myself doing any state championship games, but I do see myself as a much better official in 5 years than I am today.

I may look into dual membership in NH if it looks like I am being frozen out here in a couple of years, but I am not going there right now.

JRut

Not much to it really. Initial certification gives one a Class 2 rating, which allows officiating at any level other than varsity. After two years, you can take an exam to become Class 1 certified. As I understand it, it is the same written exam as the Class 2 but you can't have a rule book open, and has the additional requirement of being evaluated during games. Class 1 then allows you to work any level.

I think there is a third rating for younger (under 18) officials and also a "retired" classification or something.

After two years, you can take an exam to become Class 1 certified. As I understand it, it is the same written exam as the Class 2 but you can't have a rule book open, and has the additional requirement of being evaluated during games. Class 1 then allows you to work any level.

[/B][/QUOTE]Is the exam for Class 1 & 2 certified officials one of the NFHS exams- either part 1 or 2- or does Ohio use a different exam?

If I were you I would go for the Class 1 rating. You might get offered a varsity game and fall in love with those games. At the very least you have the option.

Peace

Is the exam for Class 1 & 2 certified officials one of the NFHS exams- either part 1 or 2- or does Ohio use a different exam?[/B][/QUOTE]

Parts 1 and 2 of the NFHS as I recall.

Parts 1 and 2 of the NFHS as I recall. [/B][/QUOTE]

Becoming a Class 1 does not mean you will get varsity games.

If you want to do varsity games you must take this test. But if you feel comfortable just doing the jv and lower stay where you are. There are so many Class 1's that do not have a clue.

They take the exam because they want to tell people they are a class 1. but they still can not officiate.

Stay were you are happy at, there are great games at the JV level in Ohio at least they are in my area. Just as competitive as teh Varsity game.

Parts 1 and 2 of the NFHS as I recall. [/B][/QUOTE]When approximately do you write the Part 2 exam? November? December?

Just wondering.

Here is another example that there is way too much emphasis on taking tests in this country as a qualification for officials.

Peace

In general, JV games are not as competitive as varsity games. The better players play on the varsity and any school I've ever known about puts more emphasis on winning and being competitive at the varsity level.

Ships are safe in harbors, but that aren't what ships are made for. Challenge yourself.... work up to varsity and enjoy the added intensity and adrenaline of varsity games. If you don't like it, drop back down to JV. 99% who make it to the varsity level never want to go back, even the guys who said that they just wanted to do afternoon games when they first started. Go for it.

Z

It is very well documented that I do not see eye to eye with Z often, but he is right on with this one.

I have another question to the JV or lower level officials out there. You actually prefer getting off of work much earlier and having to get to a game a few hours earlier than the varsity officials have to be there? You like having to work every Saturday morning game? You like working odd days of the week?

Maybe some of these things might be relative to my area. Lower level officials in most cases have to be at the game site 45 to 30 minutes before game time, which those games start at 6:00 or sometimes 5:45. Then do that while fighting traffic during the worst time of the day to get to a game site. A lower level official might have to leave work early to get to a game where a varsity official can leave after work. A varsity official will most likely not have to get to a site 45 minutes before game time and the game starts at 7:30 (sometimes 7:00 but not as often). Yes a varsity official might get home later or to the bar later than a lower level official (what ever floats your boat).

Forget the challenge of the game, working a varsity game or schedule from what I see gives you more time to not interfere with your job and makes it easier to get to games.

Peace

Hey Jeff this is Chris I do agree with you but, if a person is not ready do not move up. Move up wen you are ready to move up and not until. If the original writer is in Ohio he will destroy himself if he comes up and is really not ready.

I know officials 15-20 years that nly want to do the JV Games.

Now like myself i enjoy the challenge, but not every one is ready for that!!

I am not saying you should work a level you are not seriously ready for. Apart of being ready for the varsity (or college) is being comfortable with you as an official.

I am not saying everyone is ready. I am saying that if I had a choice, I would work the varsity game every time. I also hear the "I will get home" argument a lot too. I personally do not see why that is such a big deal. I am not trying to watch the next episode of Law and Order. Or if I wanted to, that is what the VCR is for.

Peace

Don't forget about TiVo or Ultimate TV

What does Saturday or odd days have to do with this discussion? I don't know of any reason that JV games can't be played on the same day as the Varsity game. They may or may not depending on the area but it is only by someone's choice. In fact, JV games here precedes the Varsity game by an 1.5 to 1.75 hours on the same dates. The freshman games are often held at the same time as the JV game.

You make a lot of assumptions.

A lot of people don't work 8-5. I've found that particularly true with officials in general more than others I know. Many may not be leaving work early at all. In fact, I know some that have really early jobs and like to be asleep by the time I'm finishing my game. I know another that would be assigned varisty games but requests JV so he can go home to be with his kids before they're all asleep.

If I target getting to a game by 5pm, traffic is not too bad yet...it gets worse as I'm arriving.

I would expect the varisty officials to arrive at the game earlier than the JV official before theirs.

Again, that depends on your job and your family. It depends on the traffic patterns in your area.

Jeff -- I agree with you most of the time, but I have to respectfully disagree with you, and agree with Camron, in this one situation. With my job, and the traffic patterns here in Portland, varsity is the most disruptive game for me, as a rule. I do it anyway, and it's a blast, but it isn't the easiest on my schedule.

Well depending on where you live, JV games are not played on the same days as a varsity game. It really boils down to where you live. It also has to deal with the discussion if you read the original post.

You also make a lot of assumptions, not everyone has kids that they need to tuck in either. Many officials I know their kids are much older or their kids are in college. Or there are many officials like myself that have no kids at all. Most people I know also have a job and that job requires that they work sometime during the day. Most jobs people are working during mid-day. One the other hand there are a lot of people do not have a set schedule or work in sales or run a business and they can leave just about anytime they get ready. Not sure what your issue is Camron. I also work baseball and one of the main reasons we have a shortage of umpires in my area is because people cannot get off of work to get to those games. Baseball games start at 4:00 and 4:30 in my area and it is not the desire to work that makes people quit or never get started. It is their job.

Camron, there is a reason I said something like, "Maybe some of these things might be relative to my area." I realize that everyone does not live in a large metropolitan area. When I started officiating I lived in a very rural area. When I lived in that rural area I still had an hour or more drive to many games. It was not always easy to get away from what I had to do at that time and get to games.

Of course it does. Who said family, job or traffic did not matter? Of course all that matters. I am just saying that most people can get to an evening game than an early afternoon game.

Peace

Thanks for all the discussion.

I have no problem with getting a Class 1 certification, just didn't know how hard I should try to reschedule things if my schedule conflicts with the exam times again.

I likely wont be assigned any varsity games for a few years anyhow. By then I should be well ready to work them if I want to do so.

One of my concerns is that if I continue to miss taking the Class 1 exam that I be perceived as someone not wanting to get better. Maybe it isn't a problem if I get to know everyone well enough, and show interest and professionalism, as I have been.

Sounds like the enjoyment of working Varsity games outweighs anything else for most officials. With my job and rural area, it is no problem for me to make early games. It is actually very convenient, considering my games are east or south of the office, and I live well west.
Unless I wanted to do a lot more driving, I would have some time to kill before a Varsity game. But hey, I could see the first half of the JV game.

It's not so much that enjoy getting home earlier, but that I enjoy ending my work day, then right into officiating, then sitting back, watching a good Varsity matchup. It seems to work well for me. From what I'm hearing, I'm just not normal, or just don't know how much better working Varsity games can be.

Officiating is very personal. I work 3 sports and I can tell you when I talk to many officials how much they say "My wife would never let me do that." But most of the officials that work 3 sports also have kids too. So it really is based on what you feel is important and what you want to do. Nobody here can tell you what to do or how much to work or when to work. If you are perfectly happy with working lower level games that is your complete right. I just know I would not be happy doing that at all and most officials I know would not be happy. We also do not have to live your life.

Peace

The association's advice sounds good to me. Passing the test is pretty much like chicken soup: it might not help you, but it can't hurt.

Take the test. Pass the test. Then decide if you want to work the games. Good luck!

Hartsy;

I live in Columbus, Ohio and I have been around a while. Started when varsity was still a two man game, so if you need any help or in advice in the Great State of Ohio :) let me know.

It is good join an assosiciation in your area. And after reading some of the post I will agre with the last one. Get your class 1, but you dont have to accept any varsity assignments until you are ready to do that.

That was precisely my point. You were the one perplexed about how a JV/early game might be preferred. Your points had absolutely nothing to do with the issue. The day of the week makes no difference for this issue...why would a Wednesday be different than Friday or Thursday? The time of day is a lot more relavant to the discussion than the day of the week.

You were the one questioning why any official would prefer early/JV games. I only provided you several reasons. I made no claims that all or even most officials would be in the same situations. You were the one who unconditionally said: "Forget the challenge of the game, working a varsity game or schedule from what I see gives you more time to not interfere with your job and makes it easier to get to games." I was merely pointing out that your vision was limited.
I agree that, for many people, it is easier to get to later games. You were the one that seemed so puzzled by anyone would want to work the earlier games.

Personally, it is easier for me to get to the later games and am glad that nearly all of may games I work are 7:15 or later. It would make it very hard for me to get to a 5:30/5:45 game.

Hartsy, do what makes you happy and what works for you. Don't let cocky jerks tell you you can't be a good official if you don't aspire to move up. It's not about them or pleasing anyone but yourself and doing a respectable job for the job you take. I konw some guys that work mostly JV games by choice who are better officials than many that work varsity schedules. There will alway be those who look down on them blind to the fact that the level of game they're working is not always an indicator or who good of an official they are.

Camron, you need to read this quote from Hasty's thread.

<b>"It's not that I don't think I can do it, just that I'm not sure I want to. Maybe that will change in a few years, but right now, I enjoy the JV and Freshman games, and can get home early if I choose, or I can hang around for the varsity matchup."</b>

I mentioned the time based on what he said. This is a common comment at least where I live so I commented accordingly. My comments were not for your benefit. Hasty did not seem to have a problem with what I said, why are you so worried about it?


Camron, this is called a discussion board for a reason. It is to have discussions. If you have not noticed discussions here take on many forms. I was not talking to you or asking the question so you would understand better. If this discussion is too much for you to handle or you do not agree with it that is certainly your right to feel that way. I was just asking a specific question and trying to encourage Hasty to look beyond what might be his built in barriers. If he thinks my advice, that is for him to decide.

Once again Camron, I was not asking you the question. You were not the person I would expect to answer the question because you are not in Hasty's or anyone else's situation like that. Hasty asked a question, I asked one in return. I was not puzzled, just wanted to know what his reasoning and other people's reasoning for not really wanting to work varsity. If someone does not want to go for promotion (based on a system that Ohio and Illinois have) then I wanted to know why they would allow that to hold them back because they do not want to do varsity. I am not saying everyone has to want to do varsity, just wanted to know why they might be adamant about not working at the varsity level. If you have not noticed I sit on many Association Boards and I speak at many different clinics that either our associations runs or is run by an area group. It is very rare that most officials do not want to move up to some degree (varsity and/or college). I did a presentation called "Moving Up" last November and this session was packed. There were hardly any seats available in the band room where I held the presentation. This is a very common discussion I get asked about so I am asked a question to get more information when this topic comes up in board meetings or with newer officials I come in contact with. I was not asking this question to tick you off or to upset you in any way. I was asking the question because this was pointed out by Hasty himself. I am sorry that I wasted your time or upset you. Maybe next time I will confer with you before I ask questions that are not up to your high standards.

Peace

Once again, Jeff, you make absolute statements that are utter BS and once you're called on them, you weasle out of them by saying you weren't talking to me. You tell me this is a discussion board but I can't be in the discussion! Me handling the discussion is most certainly not an issue. I suggest you evaluate your ability to communicate on point and with clarity and open your horizons to realize that the world is bigger than you back yard.

Just cause you're on many boards doesn't mean squat. I seem to recall you discrediting some NFHS board members saying that their authority is not well regarded (not a point that I agree with). Just because some people are able to BS their way into positions of visibility doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.

BTW, I'm the one that replied because everyone else is ignoring your mis-information.

Perhaps you are a great official and a good speaker, it just doesn't come across that way in print. Perhaps the inconsistencies and errors in your written statements are not what you mean but all you're able to write.

[Edited by Camron Rust on Jul 29th, 2005 at 08:20 PM]

It appears that whatever I say, you will find fault or a problem with it. That is perfectly fine with me and your prerogative to do so. Camron I never said you cannot be in the discussion, I just said my comments were not about you or what you thought was important. For some reason you have a hard on for everything I say and this is not the first post you have told me what makes since to you. You were not the person that I was asking the question to (you do not fit the description of a lower level official) and you did not start the thread. I was asking those that work lower level ball what they think.

I have said that to people when they come off as the authority on all things in their state and other states. Just recently MTD tried to tell everyone how NF mechanics should be used by everyone that uses them. Then I witnessed Mary Struckoff in her own words (who actually works for the NF) make a statement that was quite different than MTD's point of view. So yes I have made statements about people talking out of pocket about what other states should or should not do because they feel it is the right thing. There are many people here that feel because their state uses one kind of mechanic, the entire country should use the same under NF mechanics. Well Mary made it very clear that is not the case. But that is not what we are talking about here.

I was not commenting for every place in the country. I was asking a question based on what happens here. Being on this board and other places for some time, the struggle to get to games is not something just an issue for people in my area or state. It seems like it is a widespread problem in many areas. Unless most games are starting at 9:00pm, I am sure most officials have a job where either they have to leave a little early or use vacation time to get off of work to officiate. I know in my sales position, I have to make sacrifices to work games. In some cases I lose money working a basketball game than I would if I made an appointment. I guess the D1 assignor whose camp I attended in June (in Ohio ironically) went on a big speech about work, family and officiating was not telling the truth or giving misinformation when he talked about your life having balance in it. I guess I do not really understand what your beef is? All you are telling me is that I am wrong and I am not clear what I said that could be wrong when I am asking a question for clarification?

Did it ever occur to you that maybe you are the only one that really has a problem with what I said. Or you are the only one that thinks what I said applied to everyone? Juulie did not agree with me either but she applied her points to the area she lives. She also focused on her area. Camron I read a lot of articles in magazines or read books and studies that I disagree with the information. It does not mean that what the person said was wrong or does not apply to someone. Do you ever watch Hardball with Chris Matthew? If people interpreted the same information the same way all the time, shows like Hardball would not be on the air.

I am not really sure what me being a good or bad official has to do with this conversation. I also do not know what being a good speaker has to do with this conversation either. I simply asked a question to help me understand Hasty's original point. I do not think we were talking about how good someone was as an official either. I am also not sure what I said was inconsistent. I stated that most people that I know when they work early games have to compensate with their job in some way. Does that apply to everyone, of course it does not. I think you want take things literally when first of all I was asking a question. You have yet to answer my question; you just said I was wrong for basically coming up with an idea.

Camron, I was asking a question and still no one has answered that question. I was not making a statement, but I did make an observation and asked a question based on my observation. If no one can answer my question, then so be it. It was not a life or death issue. ;)

Peace