I'm back (again) and this time I am ONE OF YOU
 

Quick background for those of you who have never heard of me:

I registered here about five years ago, and at one time posted somewhat regularly. I was back for a few months last winter then disappeared again.

I have been a basketball coach since 1996. My friend's father got the varsity girls' job at my alma mater and drafted me to be a volunteer assistant. Midway through the first season he had to fire the JV coach and I got thrust into the role. I kept that job for two more years, then did my last year there as varsity assistant.

From there, I took a head coach job at a neighboring school. We did some good things there (quick brag: We got the first ever playoff win at that school, and I'm the winningest coach in their history) but I thought I was ready to take a break from coaching, so I resigned after four years there.

I passed the officiating test that June (97!) with plans to go that route for some undetermined period of time, but one of my good friends talked me into an assistant coach job that I've had for the last three years instead. He hung it up this spring with his second child on the way. I got engaged and work has gotten busier, so I decided to exit too. I'm sure I could've had that job. The job at my alma mater was open also, and that got consideration, but I decided the time was right to take some amount of time away from it. The passion definitely faded a little, and being in charge of a program isn't something that can be done with 80% desire or effort.

So after 11 years of coaching, I'm out for now. I realized I was going to miss the money, especially with the wedding coming up next summer, so I decided to give officiating a real go. I had to wait until October to take the test again, so by the time I got in the chapter, assignments for the HS season have been made. However, I've picked up quite a few turn-backs (one guy broke his ankle a couple weeks ago so I got some more games) and my schedule is starting to fill up. I have about a dozen each JV and JH games so far. I've got quite a few 5th/6th grade travel league games, and I expect to get a decent CYO schedule as well.

I'm pretty anxious to get started. I've been working out. I have all the gear. I've been to one chapter clinic and to our first meeting of the season which is mostly rules review. I've got two V/JV scrimmages on upcoming Saturdays. Of course, one of them is the team I coached last year, so that will be sufficiently weird.

Anyway, thanks to everyone here for all their thoughts over the years. I've been lurking for a few weeks and I'm glad to see so many of the same folks frequent the board. Wish me luck!

Good luck and have fun!

And when a coach tells you he used to be a ref and he thinks you're terrible you can tell him you used to be a coach and he doesn't exactly impress you either.

Then whack him

:)

Good luck Coach...err Ref! :D

Luck!!

Have fun coach.

And welcome to the dark.

Or you could say something about the blind leading the blind.

Attaboy, PA Coach !!!
Go out and call the perfect game !

I look forward to working with you in the PIAA finals.

100 Games In
 

Since starting in November, I've now done exactly 100 games:

57 boys / 43 girls
38 9th grade-Varsity / 62 8th grade and under / 0 adult rec
33 "official" HS or JH games / 67 off-season or youth league games
87 2-man / 13 solo
Most in a week: 11 (until this week, which will be 16)
Most in a day: 5 (Sunday, June 1)
Most money earned in a game: $51.75 (solo 7th-grade game during HS season)
Least money earned in a game: $22.00 (cheapest off-season league)
Total money earned: $3,095.25
Techinicals: 2
Overtimes: 0 :D

Well, by Golly, you must like what yer doin'!
Are you skilled. ;)

You must have had a great teacher. Keep up the good work. ;)

but you haven't really lived until you've done at least one of these... do what i did:
1) do one night of adult rec (get your 't' signal warmed up)
2) walk away from the gym at the end of the night
3) swear to never do it again
4) stick to resolution #3 come he!! or high water

you haven't really lived until you've followed my four step program to enlightenment! :)

Were the T's in the same game?

How many times did you mistakenly award a TO to the defensive team during a live ball? I see many 1st and 2nd year officials make this mistake.

How many police escorts did you require? :)

That ain't no biggie, NYBLUE.
It has happened so often, Fed made a special rule for it. :)

2 different games. Actually, it is 3 Ts, but one of them was for reaching through the plane and making contact with the ball while still in possession of the thrower.

No mistaken TOs (so far). Despite coaching for 11 years, as an official I make absolutely certain that the TO request is from the head coach and while his or her team is in possession. I seriously upset one coach who didn't get one from me because I couldn't look to make certain and the play resulted in a turnover. Teach your kids to mirror your TO request when you make one!