Can one move up too fast ?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

Would it be strange if I went to my assignor and told him I not in a big hurry to get a complete Varsity schedule?
I receive Varsity games about 1/4 of the time now . The other 3/4ths I do the Frosh/Jv circuit. The next step in my schedule seems to be about 50% of my games will be Varsity.The frosh/JV games have really SLOWED down for me and its kinda cool. Some of the VArsity games are still moving pretty fast for me, but I am holding my own.
I don't want to end up being a half-a$$ Varsity ref. There are things that I need to continue working on and I believe I can better work on them at the lower levels.
For example my big 3 things to work on include
1. Adv/Dis - letting incidential contact go,especially as Trail. Still getting comfortable with the "late" whistle
2. Game awareness-things like AP,shot clock awareness, things of that sort
3. Working with the coaches-I am comfortable with rewarding coaches for their bad behavior. I give T's. I am also pretty comfortable with working with them also. I just think I need a little more work in talking them off the ledge,also just communicating with them in general.

SO is it okay to tell my assignor I like my schedule how it is or would that be considered a little strange ?

I think it would be worse for you to tell your assignor this than to try to improve while working the schedule you are given, but others may disagree.

Sometimes you get one shot at the brass ring and if you pass it by, the carousel stops before it comes around again. It may be too soon and it may not be the right timing for you, but it's possible the assignor knows this and needs you. Or maybe he/she sees something in you that you don't see -- perhaps you are ready.

[Mountaineer]

I agree with Rich. I think that working the better games will cause a greater sense of focus. If you tell him you don't want to move up or slow down the process he will undoubtedly interpret it the wrong way. Go with the hand youa re dealt and know that there are always guys that wish they were in your shoes. Also, realize that if your assigner didn't think you could do the job, he would not have given you the games. Good luck.

[tomegun]

I think you should just work hard and trust your assignor's judgement. If he thinks you deserve what you are getting he probably knows what he's doing. Think of things from his perspective. If you told him to back off on the varsity games he may take that as you being scared or lacking confidence. How long could it take you to make it back to where you are now?

[JRutledge]

I would not make that kind of statement to an assignor. Let them decide when you deserve that kind of schedule. You might just tell them with that kind of statement that you are never ready. Even if in the back of your mind you have doubts about your ability, you do not let people like that know that. They might just lose confidence in you and never get it back. Go out and work hard and let the chips fall where they may. It is possible that you are better than others and your ability will just show through. But if you make that kind of comment you might bring more doubts if you can handle something which you have already in some way proven you can handle.

Peace

[BillyMac]

We have four classifciations on our local board, all, for the most part, based on peer ratings, and rankings: first year probation; junior varsity, meaning an all junior varsity schedule; "split" schedule, meaning both varsity, and junior varsity games; and "full" varsity, meaning all varsity assignments. The number of games you get within each classification is also based, for the most part, on peer ratings and rankings.

For many years now, I've been "full" varsity, and based on my ratings and rankings, in the lower portion of the "full" varsity classification, I get two or three varsity assignments each week. In my final couple of seasons of the "split" classification, based on my ratings and ranking, I was in the uppermost portion of the "split" classification rankings, and I was workng four or five nights a week, about 20% varsity, and about 80% junior varsity.

Now, with my "full" varsity schedule, sitting home, or working Catholic school middle school games, four or five nights a week, I wonder if it would be better to be working a "split" schedule, and being "busier" on the high school level. Yes, the games are better on the varsity level. Yes, the pay is better on the varsity level. Yes, the game times are better on the varsity level, 7:00 p.m. for varsity, versus 5:30 p.m. for junior varsity, making it tough to get out of work, and fight the rush hour traffic, for a junior varsity game. But now that I'm an empty nester, it may be nice to be doing high school games five nights a week.

Bottom line, even after twenty-seven years, I continue to try to improve, by studying the rules and mechanics, by going to various clinics and camps, and by observing the best officials on our local board. Maybe, I can eventually improve my peer ratings, and ranking, so that I'm working three or four varsity games a week.

[rainmaker]

The question in the title is, " Can one move up too fast?" and the answer is, oh, yes, one can! But I"m not sure you are under the present circumstances. Sounds like your assignor is well aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and knows what you can handle. whether or not to talk to said assignor about your movmennt up the ladder depends a lot on that person's personality, and the relationship you two have. Some assignors would see your reticence as a sign of weakness or inability or they may just dislike the circumspect approach. Others weld be delighted to have refs that have a sense of humility and self-awareness. You have to decide what's going to be best in your situation.

[DonInKansas]

I thnk that in your situation with an assignor and an evaluation process, you should be confident in the fact that he/she thinks enough of you to move you up in this fashion. There's always a bit of "am i ready for this" I believe in any promotion process. Out where I live where there is no eval process, associations, or assigners and we just contact AD's for games I think that this would be more of an issue.

This is my first year in BB and have already been asked to fill in for 2 V dates. I avoided getting HS certified so that I wouldn't be tempted to take these dates. Granted, I live in a small town rural situation where officials are horridly difficult to come by, but I am still "learning the ropes" and was not going to end up giving the coaches, kids, and other officials I'd be working with a guy that was nowhere near ready.