I've done rec leagues with DII officials.
It goes pretty smoothly.

I've thought about getting certified to start officiating BUT I'm afraid my work schedule would prevent me from making a solid commitment.

When any of you began the process what sort of schedule did you have?

I think you're right and I should just ask. All of the more competitive leagues here charge similar amounts. I'm sure there are some who employee untrained officials to make a bit more money. Now I'll have to rely on their honesty in telling me where they get their officials. Haha...we'll see how that works out!

Just tell them you're considering getting started officiating and want to know who assigns their officials.

I work days (7-4) and have a very supportive boss. When I worked nights, officiating wasn't an option for me as my nights off were reserved for family. If you live in a large enough metro area, there should be kiddy ball on weekends, mornings and evenings, that would be a good start.

:D I can imagine. If you have a good partner in these games, it makes all the difference.

The league was coming around nicely until, sadly, the girls went to the winter schedule.
We worked two 3-whistle games for that adult league.
Then we went out for beers and chow and chat.
I think we were paid $20/game and it was a nice change of pace in the middle of the week.

Terms are subject to change without notice.
 

bob jenkins: What's wrong with my description of excessive swinging? How would you describe it?

RULE 9 SECTION 13 EXCESSIVE SWINGING OF ARM(S)/ELBOW(S)
ART. 1 . A player shall not excessively swing his/her arms(s) or elbow(s),
even without contacting an opponent.
ART. 2 . A player may extend arm(s) or elbow(s) to hold the ball under the
chin or against the body.
ART. 3 . Action of arm(s) and elbow(s) resulting from total body movements as in pivoting or movement of the ball incidental to feinting with it, releasing it, or moving it to prevent a held ball or loss of control shall not be considered excessive.

Can't we all just get along? Guess not.
 

Unbelievable that on occasion players and coaches think that some referees have an attitude. With cooperation like this to a guy who comes on the board with an honest question, this problem should be solved any day now.

You must misunderstand the role of players. Their job is to play, not have a running debate with officials every time they think something did not go their way. And if I cared (or anyone cared) every time something we called what a player thought, we would change calls all the time. The last time I checked, players never foul and officials only call them for foul improperly. Either you do not understand how this world works or you are incredibly naive.

Peace

jamming the outlet pass
 

My only input is some technique. Hubie Brown teaches this, and everything Hubie teaches works...

Instead of arms held straight up and parallal to eachother, cross your arms at the wrists or slightly below, and spread your fingers out to better deflect and block vision. Put your X'd arms up in the outlet passers vision just like you would with parallal arms raised. The best thing about this technique is the elbow can't reach your face. Try it- have someone "chin" a basketball right in front of you, assume the X arms position and have them pivot & swing. Do it slowly with control so no one gets hurt. There elbows will still impact your forearms and/or wrists, but not your nose. :)

If they are real aggressive and try to throw the outlet over & through your hands, protect your fingers by making fists.

& for the record
 

I'm a HS coach and I don't feel that a referee ever owes me an explanation about a call. Coaches coach, players play, and referees make the calls.

If I were to recieve an explanation that would mean the game is actually delayed a little each time. If now the referee is offering explanations for calls whenever asked, the game is going to become slowed down by interruptions.

It's been my experience that when the clock is stopped at quarters, or half, or full time outs, if I begin with, "Can I ask a question..." and then ask a reasonable question in a non provoking manner, I always get a real answer. It might not be the answer I want to hear, but it's a real answer.

The problem is he starts with a wrong assumption
 

The original question is in part based on an incorrect assumption. There is no rule against a player raising their elbows above their shoulders while in possession of the basketball. When a player "rips" the ball overhead to get the ball on the other side of their body, their elbows go above their shoulders. Same as when a player holds the ball over their head to pass. The shooting motion requires the elbows to be raised above the shoulders.

I don't believe the case is so much that some referee's have an attitude, as it is more the case that everyone including sports officials have individual personalities. Some have pleasant dispositions, and some don't. Some don't have a lot of patience, especially in their house, which this sort of is.

I'd use the definition section.

Post office will not deliver without postage.
 

I believe that my description is easier for a nonoffical to understand. That's how we were taught what to look for twenty-eight years ago, when I was a rookie, and it was easy to understand.

We heard you the first time. :)