HS Varsity

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by dan74

Just curious from something mentioned in a different thread where a second year official stated working predominately HS varsity and JV games. What year did y'all begin to work HS varsity games...please also include whether you're in a rural vs. metro area, as it seems officials may be called upon to work varsity contests a bit sooner in rural areas.

I worked varsity ball my first year. I only worked about 3 or 4 games. These were for mostly last minute assignments and one or two 3 Person games when it was originally a 2 Person game. And yes I lived in a rural area and that did make a huge difference in those opportunities. I moved shortly to a metropolitan area in the same state and I was given varsity games right off the bat because I had previous varsity experience and I went to assignors camps to prove I could officiate. Ever since my second year I have worked what I would call a full varsity schedule. I did mostly girl's basketball in the beginning and it took some time to get more boy's games. It was just the reality that they did not have the same requirements to work girl's games as they do to work boy's games. I likely was not "ready" but I had to get ready pretty quickly. Also many of the games early on were with a partner that had more experience and I benefited from his experience to get that opportunity and to maintain those opportunities. When I moved to the larger area, it was all what I could do. Then again I had a few years of varsity under my belt and I was much more seasoned at that time.

Peace