[QUOTE=Jurassic Referee]To clarify, you don't know <b>anything</b>. You never will know <b>anything</b> either because you're too busy running your yap instead of listening and trying to learn. You don't even own any rulebooks yet and you've never officiated an organized basketball game in your life. Little facts like that don't stop you from running your big wise-azz mouth though. Personally, I think that we'd all be better off if you just stayed home with your hot wife until you grew up enough to realize whatinthehell you're getting into.

It's obvious that you don't really want to learn. You're just here to troll.


GGRRRR!!

Ha, you guys are passionate about your biz. Thats great! Sorry I stepped into the middle of this one tho...

Fiasco -

I consider myself anti-social as well (also a newlywed). For what it's worth, I've socialized with officials that I do not already work with/am friends with a total of 3 times in 6 years (in 3 sports), and I've had no problem moving up through the ranks. I've been lucky enough to be in two associations where my performance speaks for itself while on the court/field, and games with/being watched by important veteran officials/assignors/board members has always carried most of the weight in getting my name out/up. So it depends largely, in my experience, what type of system is in place where you are going to be working.

That all being said - I do not act at all anti-social when I attend meetings, scrimmages, camps, games that I'm not working,etc. and games I am working. And I attend as many of those as possible (I attend every meeting and every optional scrimmage for every sport I work) - being seen often, once people start to learn your name, and having intelligent things come out of your mouth when being seen also goes along way. So keep enjoying your time with your wife. I do.

I use this forum and a select group of old friend/good officials via email to get my situational/discussion experience (and discussions at meetings).

And definitely beltless. And pleated. And welcome.:)

Observe Really Good Officials
 

Observe really good officials. I've been officiating for twenty-six years and I still try to attend as many league or conference playoffs or state tournament games as I can work around my schedule. The best officials on your local board, or in your state, are usually selected to work these games. Go and watch them. Luckily for me, my local IAABO board card gets me into league and conference playoffs for free, and my Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) card gets me into all state tournament games for free.

Thanks for sharing and for the information you've provided me. There are actually a lot of posters, including you, that I have learned a lot from. I've found your insights on several threads to be very enlightening.

Both are untrue. Sorry to disappoint you. Have a great day.

In Texas there is not really a certification process - to be a member in good standing with TASO (Texas Association of Sports Officials) you need to pass a rules test at the beginning of the season. Just read all the NFHS rulebooks, learn the mechanics (NFHS Official's Manual & I'd recommend going to a few HS games while you still can and watch the officials), and continue reading this forum, lots of goof stuff here.

www.taso.org has information if you want to contact your local chapter

You might start with your state high school association. The OHSAA has a link in their website called "So you want to be an official". In Ohio, you take a written test twice. When you get your Class 2 license (which allows you to work up to and including the JV level and again when you get your Class 1 license which allows you to work Varsity games. You might also consider finding out where the referee schools or classes are. Contact your local referee's association and I'm sure they can direct you t o one. Schools are the best way to go, because they will give you the background and foundation to build your avocation without all the bad habits that come about from refereeing in REC level and Church League type games.

I agree with fiasco on this point. My wife and I have been married 39 years, and I definitely prefer going home to her rather than out to the bar. Keep in mind that she does grant me a "kitchen pass" on occasion, but I don't use it that often.:)

Very interesting........VERY interesting.

Not one rule discussed here, yet many valuable things to learn about officiating.

What have we learned so far?

Officiating is not all about rules. Actually most of officiating has nothing to do with rules. But you knew that already right? ;)

Peace

Fiasco, you've been given some good advice so far. The experienced ones here are giving you their viewpoint from a Varsity level, which is good.
Being a new ref means working grade/middle school ball (mostly), usually 2,3, or 4 games in a row at the same location, sometimes w/a veteran, usually with a newer guy. You can pick their brain before, halftime, and after about sichs. Ask for constructive advice.
In our area, we arrive dressed (well, I do change shoes) for non HS games, as the only place to change is usually in the boys restroom (no hooks, shelves ect-only non-sanitary floor)
Coaches at the lower levels (usually coach/dads) dont know the rules that well. Dont take abuse, but also dont take a coaches comments personally- act as a professional (minimal emotion).
Ignore the fans, oh, and also,- IGNORE THE FANS!
Reread the rules and casebook throughout the season.

I'm not really one of those people that "goes out" with the refs very often either...I like to get home to my wife and three sons and spend time with them...however, when I was younger and trying to "move up" I realized that the social aspect had a huge impact on my position within the association. So I made compromises with my wife and kids and sacrificed some time with them...at this point in my life/career I can look back and see both the positives and negatives to those compromises...would I do it again - yes. Because those sacrifices (which really in my case were only every other Friday evening after games) helped me get where I am...like it or not, there is a lot of "politics" in officiating, and to be successful, sometimes you have to play that game - I just like to think that I manipulated the game somewhat to my benefit.

This is not really true. Not everyone that gave advice is necessarily on the varsity level or above. My advice specifically had to do with any level of ball. What you wear, how you present yourself is not going to change that drastically from a grade school game to a college game.

This also not completely true as well. Not all new officials start out at the grade/middle school ball. I know I had HS games before I had my license. I did happen to work middle school games, before my HS games my very first year, but the vast majority of my schedule was at the HS level and I worked middle school games to only get more experience. My experience where I live is not very different. Most brand spanking new officials work more HS ball.

I also want to point out that this might be allowed in your area, but it is not allowed in mine. In my area and in most areas based on comments I have read on this site alone for years, it is considered unprofessional to come dressed to a game no matter the level. For one you need a room to yourself so that you will not come in readily contact with fans and other participants of the game. You cannot say this applies to everyone because it certainly does not apply to many areas. As a matter of fact, this is something your assignor or association should request.

These are the only statements I can completely agree with. ;)

Peace

From time to time I would go out and socialize after a game. I picked and chose those evenings out around the family schedule. Now that kids are older - every once in awhile we will socialize with the wives/necessary others following a game. This has really been a win-win situation.

We never go out and "socialize" when we have any distance to travel!!
:)

I want to make this clear (I am not picking you Rocky, just want to make a point). It is not a prerequisite to be a good official to go out. The point I was making earlier about this, was the fact that many things can and will be discussed after the game. There are people that will be at these "social events" you will not likely see during the season or talk to during the season. There might be someone at these events that can help you either directly or indirectly with a contact or an opportunity you might not have ordinarily received. It does not mean you cannot get to the same place without this help, but when someone can put a name with a face or look you in the eye, it is much better than having a cold conversation over the phone. We could take officiating completely out of this and talk about running a business or in a sales job. Many decisions are made out of the office or out of the board room. Many decisions are made on the golf course, at a banquet or at the bar. I know I tend to make contacts with others somewhere else than on that court or in the locker room. You do not have to go out at all and still be successful. You just might not be where people are to ask you first. Or to give you contact that will send your career soaring.

I will be at an association run social on Friday. Usually there are D1 Officials, State Final Officials, multiple playoff officials and a couple of assignors of either conferences or tournaments. Anyone attending is going to benefit if they simply introduce themselves to one of these individuals.

Peace