HS Varsity

[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.

[Chess Ref]

I am in a Metro area.
We have about 110 schools we do.
I have my first ever officially assigned Varsity game tomorrow night.
I am at the beginning of my 4 th year.

[DonInKansas]

I live in a very rural area with lots of small schools (150-200 kids in a 7-12 grade building), and am in my first year of HS ball. I took an officiating basketball class and did some rec ball tied into that 6 years ago, but I am for all intents and purposes a rookie. That being said, they're so hard up for officials out here that I was called for a Varsity gig the other night. I turned it down, telling them that I was not state certified. I had heard that i would get calls like this, and frankly did not get certified this year so there would be no temptation to take a Varsity game. Sub-V I'm okay with, but I'm not willing to put myself or the teams through the brtuality that is a rookie ref learning the ropes. At least, not with me anyways.

[BktBallRef]

Don, you're a wise man. Don't put yourself in a position where you might fail until you're confident you can handle it.

I worked rec leagues for several years before signing up with the state association. My first year, I worked middle school and JV games. Then, I got a varsity doubleheader on the last Firday night of season. It was a result of making 100 on the NFHS exam, making somegood impressions, and staying out of trouble all year. The next year, I got a full varsity schedule and have ever since.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

It was a result of making 100 on the NFHS exam, making somegood impressions, and staying out of trouble all year. The next year, I got a full varsity schedule and have ever since.

The building blocks for success in officiating. Though I haven't gotten 100 on my tests yet, I did get 99 this year, which is about 1 above my average.

I'm a grinder in this officiating deal. I just keep plugging away. And now I'm getting better games.

[grunewar]

Similar to Don, I am in my 6th yr of officiating (rec), but my second with certification (HS). I live in a metro area with lots of opportunity.

I have done one regular season V game (private school) and several scrimmages. While several of my evaluators have said "with two senior partners I could do a V game," I am content to continue to learn from sr officials, become more competent and confident, and wait my time..... at least for a little longer anyhow.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by dan74

What year did y'all begin to work HS varsity games

1892.

[refman1964]

I live and work in southeast Missouri.. I began calling ball back in 1996 local kwanis leagues for elementary age kids. I moved up to Jr. Hi in 99. Had to stop for awhile because of an injury in 2000. I started again 02 and didn't begin working at the Varsity level until 04. 06 was my first season with what I would call a full Varsity level schedule

[Rich]

I've been knocking this around since 1987 now.

Back then I was in college and didn't work any varsity games - was happy to work JV and FR and Jr. High games. Moved to Tennessee for graduate school and worked a season-and-a-half before being promoted to the varsity group.

Have moved a few times since then, but I've worked mainly varsity games and now that's all I do. I'd rather stay home with my family than add subvarsity games to my already sagging schedule. I blew my knee out in January and my first game back is tomorrow night.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I blew my knee out in January and my first game back is tomorrow night.

Good luck with the game, Rich. Let us know how it goes.

I'm one of those guys everybody figured would be least likely to succeed at this. But I just wouldn't go away and kept working my tail off. I got my first varsity games in my fourth year. I've had a few more this year. At this point I want to just keep my head down and get comfortable working small school varsity before I worry about trying to move up.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Good luck with the game, Rich. Let us know how it goes.

I'm one of those guys everybody figured would be least likely to succeed at this. But I just wouldn't go away and kept working my tail off. I got my first varsity games in my fourth year. I've had a few more this year. At this point I want to just keep my head down and get comfortable working small school varsity before I worry about trying to move up.

Hey BITS that about sums up my experience too. One of my trainers in my first on court training deal asked me if I was sure this was something I wanted to do. Also managed to get myself into an argument with another trainer that same day. Not the greatest of starts but just like you wouldn't go away and here I am.

Tonight is my first Varsity assignment. Small school boys. I am working with the Head Assigner-so its kinda double duty tonight.

I am also a believer in the keeping my head down and working hard....

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Good luck with the game, Rich. Let us know how it goes.

I've worked a full baseball and football season since, so I think the knee will be OK.

I've dropped 30 pounds so far and 2 pants sizes. It was time to get myself in a shape other than round and take some pressure off the knees. I still have a ways to go, but I feel like I'm better prepared for the season than I've been in quite some time.

It's 3-person girls tonight (Illinois), so I'm not sure how much hard running I'll actually do. But Thursday is 2-person boys (Wisconsin), and the teams like to run. It will be a much better test. Even in good (better is a more appropriate word, according to my results on the elliptical machine) shape, I'd much prefer moving fully to 3-person here -- it makes for better officiating, without a doubt.

I'm not sure how many more years I have on the court. I'm fully scheduled for this season and next right now and mainly I didn't want to go out on someone else's terms, but I'm not sure how much I'm loving basketball anymore. Tomorrow will be very important for me in many ways.

[PIAA REF]

I am from Pennsylvania, in a rural area. I started with a handful of varsity games during my third year. I did however stayed and did the varsity during my second year when an official didn't show up. After my third year I recieved a decent schedule since, with a slight increase in games and quality of games.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I've worked a full baseball and football season since, so I think the knee will be OK.

I've dropped 30 pounds so far and 2 pants sizes. It was time to get myself in a shape other than round and take some pressure off the knees. I still have a ways to go, but I feel like I'm better prepared for the season than I've been in quite some time.

It's 3-person girls tonight (Illinois), so I'm not sure how much hard running I'll actually do. But Thursday is 2-person boys (Wisconsin), and the teams like to run. It will be a much better test. Even in good (better is a more appropriate word, according to my results on the elliptical machine) shape, I'd much prefer moving fully to 3-person here -- it makes for better officiating, without a doubt.

I'm not sure how many more years I have on the court. I'm fully scheduled for this season and next right now and mainly I didn't want to go out on someone else's terms, but I'm not sure how much I'm loving basketball anymore. Tomorrow will be very important for me in many ways.

I guess it won't be an important day, unless you include moving snow.

Probably for the best. My game was in Rockford, IL and I live just north of Madison, WI and the Rockford Public School website says all after school activities are cancelled. With the belt of freezing rain from here to there, it's probably better to just sit home and watch hockey and Boston Legal on TV. It would've been the first girls game I worked in IL in the six years I've worked down there, too.

First game Thursday, then. What's another 2 days?

[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