Being young...

[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.

[tomegun]

I cringe when I hear talk about "college camps." Has anyone ever heard of someone going to play a sport with the bigger boys because it will help them get better at the level they are at? That is what I think about "college camps." Also, the term "try-out" is probably thrown around too much. IMO, true try-out camps cost zero and may include being put up in a hotel and per diem. Most other camps are just teaching camps or money pits. Just my opinion.
I wish nobody felt the need to explain why they don't want or have time for college ball. It isn't for everyone and sometimes it makes me sick. Family (kids especially) are more important and everyone doesn't have a career where they can take the time off. I would suggest every official remain open to what a camp could offer. High school basketball needs good officials, bad!

[Texas Aggie]

Mike Tanco worked a lot of college basketball in the old Southwest Conference and other leagues. He worked one NCAA final in the early '80s as well. At one camp I attended in the early '90s, Mike spoke a bit. He said, and I paraphrase (but not much): officiating isn't more important than your spouse; it isn't more important than your family; and it isn't more important than your career.

At the time, I shrugged that off. Being ~23 without a spouse or family and just barely into a career, I didn't think he was talking to me. But he was, only about 2-3 years later.

I agree with JR that everything is a very personal decision. Just think about how your choices now about how you spend your time will affect you the rest of your life. You aren't 16 anymore without a worry in the world and unable to make objective decisions.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I cringe when I hear talk about "college camps." Has anyone ever heard of someone going to play a sport with the bigger boys because it will help them get better at the level they are at? That is what I think about "college camps." Also, the term "try-out" is probably thrown around too much. IMO, true try-out camps cost zero and may include being put up in a hotel and per diem. Most other camps are just teaching camps or money pits. Just my opinion.

I really, really, really think this depends on where you live and what conference you are trying to get into. The reason I say that is because there are conferences around me that do not charge a lot of money for the camp, but are the only camps the "conference" runs to get a look at newer officials. Not that a lot of guys get hired to the D1 level, but they might get a D2 or D3 opportunity that gives them a shot down the line.

Originally Posted by tomegun

I wish nobody felt the need to explain why they don't want or have time for college ball. It isn't for everyone and sometimes it makes me sick. Family (kids especially) are more important and everyone doesn't have a career where they can take the time off. I would suggest every official remain open to what a camp could offer. High school basketball needs good officials, bad!

I agree with you there. It is not for everyone. But you can learn something from these camps if nothing else how to manage people. I learned more about managing the game this summer than I ever have when I decided to go to a couple of D1 camps. My game has improved greatly just for what I learned.

Peace

[LarryS]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I cringe when I hear talk about "college camps." Has anyone ever heard of someone going to play a sport with the bigger boys because it will help them get better at the level they are at? That is what I think about "college camps." Also, the term "try-out" is probably thrown around too much. IMO, true try-out camps cost zero and may include being put up in a hotel and per diem. Most other camps are just teaching camps or money pits. Just my opinion.
I wish nobody felt the need to explain why they don't want or have time for college ball. It isn't for everyone and sometimes it makes me sick. Family (kids especially) are more important and everyone doesn't have a career where they can take the time off. I would suggest every official remain open to what a camp could offer. High school basketball needs good officials, bad!

The point I was attempting to make was that I did not know if it was appropriate to ask the assignors why you were not picked up.

You do not, at least in my area, need to go to a "college camp" to improve as an official...as least in my opinion. There are several camps with college officials and assignors present and making evaluations but the focus is on NFHS rules and mechanics and the teams are local summer league and travel teams.

And if my post make you sick...feel free to not read the d@&% things.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by LarryS

And if my post make you sick...feel free to not read the d@&% things.

Maybe I wasn't clear or you are touchy. What makes me sick (sometimes) is the politics associated with college ball. Don't be so defensive.

[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."

[refnjoe]

Well, as a new official who is a few years older than you, I envy the position you were in. I wish I had gotten started a long time ago!

I've already seen how intense the competition is, and I've decided not to focus on getting to the next level, or what everyone else is doing/getting.

Instead, my goal for each time I get on the court: learn something, and improve. I had a mentor (non-officating) when I was in high school who would always ask me how things went anytime he knew I had been involved in a competition. My knee-jerk reaction was to tell him how I did and whether we won or lost.

No matter what I said, he would always ask, "But did you learn anything?" He always said no matter if I won or lost, if I didn't learn something to make me better next time, it was a waste of time.

Another thought- see if you can find a younger rookie that wants to learn, and help them. If you take advantage of opportunites to teach, I bet you will improve your game!!

Keep it fun and have a great season!