How long did you work HS before moving to college ball?

[JS 20]

This is my 7th year of Bball. I've worked some pretty competitive intramural (in college) and men's rec. I've done very competitive AAU and some freshman games leading up to this year which is my first year of JV. This was the first year I joined the local association to get HS games due to a work schedule that just settled down this year.

My ultimate goal is to get into college basketball and go as far as I can. I'm 25 so I'm starting fairly early. Do you guys think it would be a huge jump to try and get into Juco and/or D3 next year? I would be 100% comfortable and not overwhelmed doing varsity games. I've worked so many games over the past 7 years I'm not really rattled by much of anything on the court. JV has come really easy to me so far and hasn't been very challenging. Any advice on making the jump? Curious to hear opinions and hear what your path was to working college ball if you do so. I got some good info from a board member on a camp to go to this summer to get picked up but i'm not sure if the timing's right for me. thanks!

[KingTripleJump]

I'm 26 now. I started officiating college when I was 23 so this is my 4th year. My supervisor has both a JUCO and a D2 league so I work games in both conferences. I don’t see a reason why you wouldn’t go for it. You’re young, you love the game, and you can start to achieve your goals, should they be to keep advancing.

[JRutledge]

About 5 years.

Peace

[Gimlet25id]

I worked my first college game my third year of officiating. I think everyone is a little different in how they can or can't move up. It depends on the individual.

It can't do nothing but help you by going to camps. You will learn & receive a great deal of information by going to the right camp. The bonus might be getting picked up by the supervisor.

I was told once that a good college camp is like gaining a year of officiating experience.

I'm mentoring a young guy from my hometown who played basketball @ a MCC college. He's been working for 2 years and is already working a small college schedule. So dude..its all up to you.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Gimlet25id

It depends on the individual.

So dude..its all up to you.

This is simply not true. If it was all up to me, I'd have multiple NCAA Final Fours under my belt by now.

The effort that you put into it is all up to you. But the selection process has many, many, MANY more factors involved. Your geographic location is involved, the camps you pick are a factor, the perception of posture and composure are a factor.

I worked high school for 6 years before I got accepted to work NCAA JV games. Took me another 3 years to get a D3 varsity schedule. Took me another 6 years to get a D2 schedule. I could've had a D2 schedule 5 years ago, because the assignor loved me. But I was too far away from most of his schools to be of any use to him.

I'm not trying to discourage you. I just don't want you to go in with this false perception. Your seven years of intramural and rec ball are going to impress exactly nobody. I don't say that as an insult, but you need to recognize that college assignors (the ones that I know, anyway) view those games as little more than babysitting. That's not a reflection on you personally, only on the level of play.

If you want to move up, you need to be seen by the right people. That means you need to find out who those people are in your area and find out which camps they will be observing at. Then go to those camps. That's really what you need to do in this era.

If you post your general location, you might get some feedback here on which camps are your best bets. Good luck.

[tomegun]

Gimlet, you are from Richmond? That is where I'm from too. Do you know my cousin? He is a cop, on the school board, sings the national anthem at just about any event, sings at weddings and is basically a pain in the butt to go out with in town because he has to stop and talk to everyone.

What year did you graduate?

[TheOracle]

Originally Posted by JS 20

This is my 7th year of Bball. I've worked some pretty competitive intramural (in college) and men's rec. I've done very competitive AAU and some freshman games leading up to this year which is my first year of JV. This was the first year I joined the local association to get HS games due to a work schedule that just settled down this year.

You can always go to a camp and see where you're at compared to your comeptition. Chances are, until you've been through the wringer for a couple of years at HS Varsity, you haven't been is charged atmospheres where it really matters. However, you can learn at the JUCO level just as easily as the HS level, if you have a mentor/sponsor. A camp will help you get one if you are ready.

I started working 2-year college ball in my 4th season, and it was not an easy transition. But if you want it bad enough, and you have the talent and personal commitment, the sky is the limit. There are 4th and 5th year officials getting hired at the D-1 level in some instances. Get after it.