Assistant Coach Instructing Players

[bgtg19]

Originally posted by JRutledge
[I]f this was a 5th grade game I can tell you that you are going to get either brand new officials or officials that are not capable to work other levels.

While Rut's two explanations (new official and bad official) probably are the most common, in our area one can often see varsity officials working middle school games. Most often, these varsity officials are working with the newer officials. (Just last week, an official who worked the state finals and state semi-finals in the past two seasons was working a seventh-grade game with a brand new official). In many past threads, Rut has made it clear that he chooses NOT to officiate at the middle school level for any reason -- and he has the right to make that choice for himself -- but I am writing to counter the stereotype that all middle school game officials are either inexperienced or destined-to-remain-at-that-level.