Being young...

[truerookie]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

And Chuck is the small dink that would do that too!!

Gone but not forgotten.....


Chuck Elias

JR, What happen to Chuck?

[Dan_ref]

Who's Chuck?

[bigdogrunnin]

"What's up Chuck?" - sorry, couldn't resist.

CLH, BE PATIENT! Your time will come. Something I have heard many times is that "when you are the best at where you are at, then you are ready to move on." Work at being the best at where you are, and your opportunities will present themselves.

I have been officiating for about 8 years now, and for the last 2-3 years I really believed I was one of the best in my Chapter. Then I started going to camps . . . and I was humbled very quickly. I too, received great reviews and critiques, and I have been told I should already be calling college ball, and yet I am not. I don't get discouraged though. The opportunity to call college games is a GOAL. Once that goal is reached, I will set another goal. Until then, I can only control what I have control over.

Where my officiating is concerned, that means, dressing professionally when going to games (I always wear slacks, dress shirt, and a tie, and many times I wear a jacket). It tells coaches and administrators that I want to be taken seriously, and that I take my responsibilities as an official seriously. I always have my uniform in prestine condition. I always hustle during the game. I always communicate with the coaches and players in a professional and courteous way. I always study and re-study the rules. I always ask other officials (more experienced) for their opinions and critiques of my officiating. When I can, I give coaches a blank tape and a SASE to send me a copy of the game film so I can evaluate my performance in that game (self-evaluation). I go to camps. I meet people. I talk with other officials. I hang out with officials that already call college games, and listen to their experiences. (If you want to make millions of dollars you don't hang out with the "fry-guy" at McDonald's to learn how, you hang out with people who make millions of dollars! Same with officials . . . if you want to go to the next level, spend time with people who are already there, not with 15-year veterans who still get a GREAT JH schedule each year.)

What I am saying is that focus on those things that YOU have ultimate control over, and the rest will happen on its own. If you focus on those circumstances and decisions you do not control, you will get more and more frustrated until you eventually get bitter, and maybe even quit!

OH, and HAVE FUN! I left a VG Tournament Championship game yesterday and as I walked out the door I remember thinking that I would have done the game for free. That is how much fun I had! I think it should be that way across the board. But that is just me. Best wishes and stay positive!

[CLH]

So what you guys are telling me is quit worrying! haha. I'm a perfectionist in everything I do, and even more so with officiating. I try to do all the little things others don't, have my uniform fitted, wear coat and tie to games, get films all that. It just drives me nuts when I see some guys getting picked up, and I think what the hell are they doing I'm not. I dropped nearly 50lbs in the last few years because I knew I didn't look athletic. Now I weigh about 155 and try to work out, I look alot better.

Oh, and Aggie, its too late, officiating already runs my life. Ask my friends, I watch NBA games, and they automatically ask me who's calling, sad thing is I usually know within a few seconds.

CLH

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by CLH

So what you guys are telling me is quit worrying! haha. I'm a perfectionist in everything I do, and even more so with officiating. I try to do all the little things others don't, have my uniform fitted, wear coat and tie to games, get films all that. It just drives me nuts when I see some guys getting picked up, and I think what the hell are they doing I'm not. I dropped nearly 50lbs in the last few years because I knew I didn't look athletic. Now I weigh about 155 and try to work out, I look alot better.

Oh, and Aggie, its too late, officiating already runs my life. Ask my friends, I watch NBA games, and they automatically ask me who's calling, sad thing is I usually know within a few seconds.

CLH

If what you're doing isn't working, try something else. Perhaps relaxing and getting a life would be a good thing to do, and it might actually help your game.

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted". Of course you should dress nicely when you go to games, but coat and tie is overkill for going to a girls' jv game. Unless that's what you wear all day, and it's just fastest and easiest to show up that way.

If officiating really, truly does run your life, you need to deal with that. A lot of refs joke around about that, but we don't really mean that we are literally addicted. If you are, it's not a good thing. Get some help. I'm not saying this to be critical or harsh, just to express the reality that I see. If you really, truly never get picked up for college ball, will you be able to let go and find something else to do with your life? You've got to keep a perspective now, or you'll won't be able to find one later.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted".

I disagree with this. Most officials don't wear their uniform in a manner that looks good or as good as it could be. For instance, many officials wear shirts that are too big.

Once I heard an assigner out west say she (only one female who assigns D1 men's that I know of) wants officials who need to be in D1 rather than want to be in D1. She wasn't asking for anyone to lay down their life for basketball, but she wanted someone who has serious passion for the game.

I'm also somewhat of a perfectionist and I think perfection should be your goal. Whether you reach perfection or not is another thing, but attempting to do less will lead to lesser results (my opinion).

Stay hungry!

Just another perspective.

[BEAREF]

I officiated my first varsity game right out of high school back in 1976. Over the next couple years I found other things that were more important to me than officiating so I got out. I kept involved by playing pick up games and helping to coach traveling teams. About eight years ago I was asked to officiate a Freshman Team (boys) game and was hooked. I got recertified for high school the following year and have been enjoying a pretty full schedule since then, however, mostly JV and with a few varsity games. I feel that I'm on the other spectrum...being old. In this part of the country it seems as though the younger officials are getting the assignments because they will be around than us older guys. It's not my appearance as I've been told many times that I don't look any older than 30. I'm just hangin in there hoping that the hard work and preparation makes me better and that someday I'll make it to the next step on the ladder. If not...I will continue to do the best than I can.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted". Of course you should dress nicely when you go to games, but coat and tie is overkill for going to a girls' jv game. Unless that's what you wear all day, and it's just fastest and easiest to show up that way

I have to disagree with this comment as well. The better your uniform fits, the better you look, the better you will be perceived. Your uniform is your business card. It is not much different than how you dress going to job interview. And in reality we are being judged as officials the same way on the court as someone is going to a job interview. Someone is going to see us for the first time and they will make judgments about us based on those first impressions. Maybe we will eventually prove them wrong, but we might not get another change to achieve that.

Peace

[Snake~eyes]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

If what you're doing isn't working, try something else. Perhaps relaxing and getting a life would be a good thing to do, and it might actually help your game.

Of course your uniform should fit, but you may not need to "get it fitted". Of course you should dress nicely when you go to games, but coat and tie is overkill for going to a girls' jv game. Unless that's what you wear all day, and it's just fastest and easiest to show up that way.

If officiating really, truly does run your life, you need to deal with that. A lot of refs joke around about that, but we don't really mean that we are literally addicted. If you are, it's not a good thing. Get some help. I'm not saying this to be critical or harsh, just to express the reality that I see. If you really, truly never get picked up for college ball, will you be able to let go and find something else to do with your life? You've got to keep a perspective now, or you'll won't be able to find one later.

I also have to disagree. Getting your shirt to fit well at the HS level may be uncommon, may be uncommon at the lower levels of college but that's irrelevant. It looks so much better when your shirt fits nicely. This goes to first impression and court presence.

Also have to disagree with dress to a game, this differ by area but I think its great to wear that to go to a game - first impression is everything and hopefully that will give you that little "extra"



Anyways, I just want to say I am in a similar boat. First thing off, be patient! Your time will come. You have to be in the right place at the right time. So keep learning and keep going to camp. Try to network with more people at camp, this helped me greatly and I continually try to email these people occasionally. Try to talk to a well respected official in your area who may be at the college level and see if he can give you any advice. You are still young and have plenty of time to get to the level you want to get to - be patient!

Good luck!

[FrankHtown]

At our State Meeting a few years ago, Monte McCutcheon (NBA) was the keynote speaker. Along with the great stories he had, he also mentioned he used to go on to the court with the attitude of calling a perfect game. And, he said, usually within the first 3 minutes, that goal was shot. So if perfection is your goal, and it's gone in the first 3 minutes, what is left?

He said now at every game, he picks something to work on. Signals, voice, presence, positioning, communicating with coaches....something that at the end of the night, he can say he got better at it, rather than trying to be "perfect."

I think it's an educational alternative to "perfection."

[Ref_ Fred]

CLh,

Don't worry, You have time to still make it. What I didn't hear you say in any of your posts is that you are having fun doing this. I'm not saying this is your problem but maybe have a smile. Look like you are enjoying your refereeing. I started 7 years ago and I'm 50 now. I had some looks this year and as soon as they hear my age. They give me that you should be doing some college ball. I can sympathizes with your frusttration, but It will happen one day. Rainmaker made a comment that you are still young. by 25 you will be a made man in the world of officiating. hang in and good luck.. Keep the faith..

[Ref Daddy]

Originally Posted by truerookie

JR, What happen to Chuck?

Chuck took his 8,600 posts and called it a career:
A Fond Farewell

[JRutledge]

I think what most people have said are pretty much right on. I can only add a couple of things that I feel are relevant.

I think you need to ask the people around you directly what you need to do or what you need to improve on. It is one thing to feel you are good, but I am sure other people have an opinion beyond what you are thinking. Not to say you are not good or are not one of the better officials around, but do other officials/assignors feel the same way? You have to have people that feel similar to the way you think your ability is. It is very possible that two things do not match up the way you think they do. No one here realistically knows what you need to work on and what is going to help you advance or hold you back.

Secondly, the amount of focus you take to officiating is very personal. Even though I agree with what Texas Aggie said on many levels, but that might not apply completely to you. If you are not married or do not have kids, your focus can be very different. Not all of us have the same family obligations to consider. I do not have any children and I like to be out of the house as much as possible. I also do not want to officiate every single night either. I admit that I work my regular job to officiate. That might not work for everyone but that is OK. You have to find the balance that works for you. That also does not mean that you already do not have that balance. You might have to take your officiating more seriously than you already are taking it. There is much more to being a good official than showing up and working the games. You might need a mentor at the college level. You might need to attend more meetings or more social events to meet other experienced officials and talk to them. I learn more at social events about how to get assignments and learn new contacts than any other place. I also would suggest that you treat this like a business. I know that you might not hear that from other people, but if you are making money doing something, it does not make a lot of sense to me to treat this only as a hobby. All your expenses, your schedule and how you are perceived are no different than any other business you might be involved in. If you go to a camp you have to convince assignors that they want to use your business. Everything needs to be in order or you will not get hired. You are only 23. You have plenty of time to get it together. By the time you are 30 you will be more than ready for that first opportunity than you are right now.

Peace

[LarryS]

When I add my time contraints during the last few summers to the fact that college ball is not a goal of mine, it adds up to me having never attended a college camp...so forgive me if my thought is taboo.

When you go to a college try-out camp and don't get picked up, do you ask the reason(s) you were not selected?

About a year ago I interviewed a young man for a position in my company. He was a good candidate but seemed a little "high brow" during the interview...and that worried me when I thought about how he would fit in with the company culture. When I offered the position to the other finalist, he called me and we spoke for about 30 minutes. While he was disappointed, he thanked me and said he would keep my thoughts in mind while working for his current employer and in future interviews. Six months later, he called and thanked me again when he was offered a better position with another company.

While it may not be possible to get post-camp feedback from the assignor, there should be someone that can give you insight. It may simply be a case of you looking too young for their personal taste. If so, there is nothing you can do but keep working hard, enjoy the games you are calling and keep saying "Good morning" to people for as many mornings as possible.

Sounds like you are willing to work hard and educate yourself...fine virtues. Patience is another good virtue...