NJ Varsity/IABBO Help
 

Hey Everyone,

The season is about two months away for me here in NJ... I wanted to ask everyones opinions and help on the following subjects. Any help/sarcasm/constructive critisim is greatly appreciated... Lets just keep it G-Rated...

1) I am a high school official here in NJ. A member of CEJBO (an offshoot of IABBO - I did not know of IABBO at that time)... I do get occasionally varsity level games when my assigner (from CEJBO) decides to give me some... I want to move up the ladder eventually and wanted to know what is the best way of doing that... (I know camps) But is there any other way?

2) Should I consider joining IABBO? I will need *(as of my understanding) another year of training class before I can become a member. Can you move up to the JUCO, D-III ranks without IABBO?

3) How can I best build my resume to start to work some JUCO games? What do they look for? JV, Varsity, Youth, AAU expierence? I want to make the jump hopefully in the next three-four years... So, what can I do now that will help me make that jump?

Thanks,

[QUOTE=PAT THE REF]Hey Everyone,


1) I want to move up the ladder eventually and wanted to know what is the best way of doing that... (I know camps) But is there any other way?

Other then hard work No!

2) Should I consider joining IABBO? I will need *(as of my understanding) another year of training class before I can become a member. Can you move up to the JUCO, D-III ranks without IABBO?

Yes, you can move up without IAABO. It goes back to what you know in the previous question (CAMPS!)

3) How can I best build my resume to start to work some JUCO games? What do they look for? JV, Varsity, Youth, AAU expierence? I want to make the jump hopefully in the next three-four years... So, what can I do now that will help me make that jump?

What they are looking for is to see if you can tuck your whistle into your shirt while you are taking a pee :D. Seriously, All in which you have listed JV, Varsity, Youth, AAU is good. However, nothing replaces hard work, film study and good judgement. It is good to have goals. I hope you reach them.

IABBO's only going to help you get HS games, and only in places that require IABBO membership. Normally HS varsity experience is needed but not always. If you're not getting competetive HS games then expand your area, find another HS board to work in.

To break into juco & D3 you'll need exposure. The ECAC holds a camp or 2 every summer to recruit officials. http://www.ecac.org/feature/feature....ciating&id=512 I believe they also assign juco games in NJ. There are other camps in the NJ/NY area you should start looking at if you are serious. It's very competetive. But 3 to 4 years is a good timeline to start getting known.

Good luck, you can email me if you like

Pat,
I am an Official in Jersey as well. I can tell you from experience the only way for you to move up is for Assigners to see you. The most common way to do that is to go to there camps. Unless some one who has a big enough reputation is willing to make calls on your behalf. I am an IAABO member and have been for about 5 years. I never went to a High school camp, but I was fortunate to have a Varsity assigner at a JV game I was working and he started giving me Varsity games. And just this summer I went to a JUCO camp for the first time and got picked up( much thanks to many of the officials on this board for your great advice ). Since then I have gotten calls from other HS Varsity and JUCO assigners. I don’t think you need to change boards, you need to be seen and camps in most cases are the best way. I hope that helps.

Like someone said earlier, nothing can replace good judgment and common sense officiating. Also appearance, especially as you rise in level appearance is becoming more and more important. Always act and dress like a professional.

Secondly, find games. It is important to get as many games as possible to see as many plays as possible. They don't have to be varsity HS games. I have yet to ref a high school game yet I have been hired to work college already. Look clean and crisp and get your plays right, and the rest is up to the assigner.

Lastly, camps. I know you said besides camps, but there is no substitute to finding the right camp that will have the right people at it and that will fit what or where you want to go in your officiating career.

Good luck and god bless