Why you officiate...

[Raymond]

I started b/c I need a part-time job when my family situation changed. I immediately fell in love with officiating. There have been many times I have become frustrated for various reasons and considered quitting.

But bottomline I continue to officiate for 3 reasons:

• I use my officiating paychecks to pay off my X-mas and credit card bills every year

• I very much enjoy being around the game. I no longer have a desire to play, but I love being on the court to officiate games. I think no matter what, I will always continue to ref HS ball.

• I still have aspirations to at least reach D2/D3 officiating. I have 3 very good friends whom I've seen rise from reffing military intra-murals/JV/middle school games and are now working D1 schedules. I started out at a lot older age than those 3 and none them had kids to raise like I do so I never expect to make it to their levels, but knowing I have the same training/officiating philosophies/mentoring/& roots makes me optimistic that I can least make it to the small college level.

[grunewar]

I played - and got too old.

I coached - and then my kids got too old.

Now, I ref and love it. Especially since now I know a heck of a lot more than I ever did as a player and a coach. I'm starting to really understand the game!

[Ref Daddy]

Two reasons:

1) the Challange. I read that public speaking is the average person's greatest fear. I feel refereeing an athletic contest is even more demanding. It is a real test of personal discipline. Offer your whistle one time to that parent raising cain in the stands and see what happens.

2) The Kids: No referee, no contest except in the school yard. Basketball will soon become a game unfamiliar to me if that is where it survives without competent officials.

[refnrev]

1. I do it because I love it -- all three sports.
2. I love the interaction with the kids and other officials.
3. I love it because it is so different than what I do for a living.
4. I like having a hobby that I am good at and can keep being challenged and grow.
5. It has helped me learn that most of the time when people complain about things it really isn't about me, but their situation.
6. I feel so much better physically and emotionally during all three seasons.
7. I look good in stripes and have this thing for polyester!


Sure there are nights I think about hanging up the stripes. I went through a real slump recently and just wasn't having much fun. See my thread "It finally dawned on me." from a few days ago. Then I have a HS game like the one tonight with the flow and the pace and the loud crowds in the gym and the calls... as long as I still get that rush.... at least sometimes.... I'm going to stick with it. Ride out the lows because they do pass. Enjoy the highs because they feel so good! Try to find the balance.

[mplagrow]

It's all about CONTROL! We ref because we are anal control freaks, and enjoy being in charge of EVERYTHING IN THE GYM! We can cite point by point, letter by letter, where the rule book tells us we are right and everyone else is wrong! If the President of the United States walks in, within the confines of those four walls, you outrank him!

Oh yeah, and the kids too.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by mplagrow

It's all about CONTROL! We ref because we are anal control freaks, and enjoy being in charge of EVERYTHING IN THE GYM!

I'm guessing that this is said in jest, but then again maybe not...in the mid-90's I went to a "try-out" type of camp. One of the evaluators stood up in front of the group, pointed to several of us and asked each the question "Why do you officiate?" As each of us (and I was one of the ones chosen) gave our answer, he replied with "Bullsh!t. Sit down."

Eventually he went on a little tirade in which he pointed out that we all officiate because it gives us POWER...we don't have that POWER in any other area of our lives, so we fulfill that need by blah, blah, blah...

When he finished, I raised my hand and asked the camp director (and small college assignor) if that was his thinking also. When he said yes, I told him thanks, gathered up my stuff and left...he called me a couple days later, we talked and I told him what I thought of that philosophy...few days later I got a contract in the mail. Weird...to this day, I can't really believe that is why anyone would officiate.

[Adam]

I'm with IREF4HIM. I didn't realize it so much until this year, though. I started because it was some easy money in college. I say "easy" because I knew the game pretty well; as a player, I was more smart than talented.
After college, I continued because it really was fun. As I started to work up slowly (it was hard to work up the ranks when I took about every other year off), I found that the better the ball I was working, the more fun it was.

Now, I've discovered it's a great stress relief. I've found that when I'm particularly stressed at my regular job; getting out to officiate really releases a lot of pent up energy. It's cathartic.

I'm confident enough in my knowledge and abilities, when I catch the inevitable grief, I can laugh.

I know I've got the best view on the court, and I probably know the rules better than all but, at most, a half-dozen other people in the building. For me, this isn't about power as much as it's about "being right." This is probably the most shallow reason I enjoy it. For those of you who have taken the "colors" personality test, I'm a green, and officiating fits my style.

[Ignats75]

That 3K I gross a year...before gas and mileage...and uniforms and supplies...and State licensing fees....and 2 different association fees.....and camp fees. Yeah, I do it for the money.

What's the cliche we were always told when going through referee school? There are always three teams on the floor....The Home, THe visitors, the officials. Well, I found out quickly it was true. SO this avocation feeds my competitive juices. I compete with myself to have a winning performance every time I step on the floor. I have, finally in my forties, found that team "esprit de corps" that I missed from my younger playing days.

[Jway44]

For me, officiating was my way of staying close to the game that I love. I knew that my basketball career was going to end at the close of my senior season in HS, so I started refereeing on Saturdays when I was still in HS. I have never put down the whistle and am now going on 17 years of calling the best sport in the world. Sure the extra money is nice, but for me, it is the one way that I can still be a major part of the game that I love.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm with IREF4HIM.
Now, I've discovered it's a great stress relief. I've found that when I'm particularly stressed at my regular job; getting out to officiate really releases a lot of pent up energy. It's cathartic.

I'm confident enough in my knowledge and abilities, when I catch the inevitable grief, I can laugh.

I agree to a point. A couple of years ago when my then 6-yr old was in and out and in and out of the hospital about 7 times in 6 weeks or seomthing, the reffing was a good distraction some days, but some days it was too much. Still, when I could be in that laughing it off mood, it was a great help. A little pleasure and a nice little endorphin rush to get me through the next few hours of crisis. And when he was actually in the hospital, I didn't need to find a babysitter!

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

I'm guessing that this is said in jest, but then again maybe not...in the mid-90's I went to a "try-out" type of camp. One of the evaluators stood up in front of the group, pointed to several of us and asked each the question "Why do you officiate?" As each of us (and I was one of the ones chosen) gave our answer, he replied with "Bullsh!t. Sit down."

Eventually he went on a little tirade in which he pointed out that we all officiate because it gives us POWER...we don't have that POWER in any other area of our lives, so we fulfill that need by blah, blah, blah...

When he finished, I raised my hand and asked the camp director (and small college assignor) if that was his thinking also. When he said yes, I told him thanks, gathered up my stuff and left...he called me a couple days later, we talked and I told him what I thought of that philosophy...few days later I got a contract in the mail. Weird...to this day, I can't really believe that is why anyone would officiate.

Great post.

btw...when you opened that envelope did you also find your uncashed check for the camp fee in there?

Now THAT would have been SOMETHING!

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

Great post.

btw...when you opened that envelope did you also find your uncashed check for the camp fee in there?

Now THAT would have been SOMETHING!

HA! No freaking chance...

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

HA! No freaking chance...

At least some things remain predictable