recruiting the next generation

[ThickSkin]

Originally posted by Grail
It's been suggested to me that we create an "official's club" at the local high schools. We'd also work with the local Park Districts, Little Leagues, etc. to assign the kids from the club to work their youth games. Naturally we'd train the club members.

It covers lots of needs. The officiating community grows, the youth legs get officials, the officials make a few dollars. Win, win, win.

I am a product of a Techniques of Officiating class that was offered to me as an under grad at Fort Hays State University. With this class, I learned mechanics, rules, and everything else. I got a job as an intramural official (the same person that taught the class also is the intramural director) and that led me to become interested in NFHS. I was part of an officials club that worked for over 50 schools in NW Kansas. We did all their volleyball, basketball, football and wrestling for jr. high, jv, and some varsity (if they were REALLY short). Most of us were noticed by veteran crews and after awhile we began working the varsity level. It was a wonderful opportunity for me and several others. From the time I was there until I left last year (7 years... I have a M.S.) there had been 10 officials that had worked a post season game or state tournament in volleyball, basketball, wrestling or football.