Why you officiate...

[stewcall]

When I first saw an official walk out on a basketball court, I thought what a cool way to have fun. They must really get treated well. I bet they have a great place to chill out before and after the game. Free food, a nice lounge, a treated like something special.
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Rookie year---- guess i got that wrong............................................. .....

Second year............... there are some really neat people who officiate.... really nice to work with and be social with... yea a few that aren't for me.. but that's ok

Third year... lots to learn... the kids can be fun to watch and see them grow... coaches are great--before the game and nice people 12 hours later.......................

and now---- nice to stay involved with real kids... the extra $ comes in handy---does keep me mentally and physically sharp...keeps me learning and meeting new people.. yea the locker rooms and the old coaches offices to stink, but boy are we special ?
at least in our own minds....

Finally I understand: nobody cares about the official after a game except for other officials-- no one comes to a game to see the official---and when the whistle gets hung up, someone will come along and the GAME goes on...

Stew in VA

[Junker]

Isn't it obvious? For the chicks! They can't get enough of a man in black polyester pants and under armor underneath! Actually I like basketball because of the challenge. I also work baseball and football, but basketball is tougher both physically and mentally. The extra money doesn't hurt either.

[Terrapins Fan]

I love everything about the game.

Everyone has pretty much hit the nail on the head. I exercise, I get paid. I feel pretty much the same as Stewcall does, and the way chayce does too.

Plus chick do dig the uni...

Anyone can play it and they do. 2nd grade to the pros.

We have guys in our association in their 40th year of officiating. I hope I can do it for another 15 to 20 years. But my family is more important than anything else.

[cmckenna]

I do it because of the constant yelling at that I recieve... The constant second guessing... getting questioned about everything..... always feeling like you did everything wrong.... always having someone upset with you...


And that is why I do it.... because officiating gets me out of the house and away from all of the stuff above....

[zebraman]

Originally Posted by cmckenna

I do it because of the constant yelling at that I recieve... The constant second guessing... getting questioned about everything..... always feeling like you did everything wrong.... always having someone upset with you...


And that is why I do it.... because officiating gets me out of the house and away from all of the stuff above....

LOL. Thanks cmckenna, that was a great one.

[REFVA]

I enjoy the game. I played when I was in High school, I loved the sport a lot. I wasn't that good. the love of the game moved onto coaching. The cr@p goes with the territory. I coached and it also has it negatives. Those parent who gave birth to 1 million Jordans are not easy to cope with at all. All of them are the next big NBA star.

[MJT]

1. I love the intensity of the game!
2. The challenge of working a game, and at the end of that game having both coaches honestly saying you did a nice job.
3. The fun I have working with the people I do, and meeting new people.
4. Walking in the house, see my wife hold out her hand and say, "where's the check?"

[HawkeyeCubP]

1. It's fun. Some people like to play certain sports. (I do.) I like to officiate certain sports. It's just fun. I didn't even play high school basketball. Just tons of fun. It's all intrinsic. Hard to describe.

2. I have a drive to be excellent at it, the likes of which I've only experienced with two other things in my life. That being said, if it ceased being fun, the dedication to learning and improving would immediately disappear as well, I believe (along with time spent on this forum ).

As for putting up with the not-so-fun stuff that rears its ugly head from time to time, and is hard to shake at times - - I think having some kind of support system is key, at least for me. My coworker, who is an official, similar to me, and my wife - mainly my wife. I come home and tell stories from the game(s) I just worked, then the next night she comes home and tells me stories from the game(s) she just played in at city league or university intramurals (where she works). (That is, of course, if we weren't already at each other's said games - then it's funny to hear her bring things up about situations before I even have a chance to.) It's extremely mutually beneficial.

[dave30]

I love sports. It is the highest paying part-time job I've ever had; (you should try waiting tables or telemarketing as a part-time job to make you appreciate officiating). I like the kids and enjoy watching them play and improve. It's good exercise. I make a lot of friends (and enemies!).