Officiating other sports

[Andy]

I currently oficiate volleyball and softball. Had to give up basketball due to leg injuries that no longer respond well to the pounding on the hard court.

From my experience, basketball is the most difficult sport to officiate. It is a series of snap judgements while having to constantly re-position yourself to follow the action. With two officials, it is difficult, but doable to watch ten players, with three officials, that job becomes easier.

It took me about three - four years of doing volleyball for the light to come on. The rules are not quite as complex as basketball or softball, but there are several things that an official needs to know and be aware of. There is almost no physical component to officiating VB, but it is very mentally taxing if you want to do it right.

I've been thinking about becoming a track starter...where else does your job consist of pointing a gun in the air and firing blanks??

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Andy

I've been thinking about becoming a track starter...where else does your job consist of pointing a gun in the air and firing blanks??

Wow, there are a dozen punch lines for this one just ready to fly.

[DLH17]

Originally Posted by Andy

...where else does your job consist of pointing a gun in the air and firing blanks??

uuuuuuuh....what exactly do you use to point that gun with.

[Mark Padgett]

There's a new sport I'm thinking of officiating. Since it's new, I can probably get in on the ground floor and work my way up to the pros pretty quick. Of course I'm talking about javelin catching.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

There's a new sport I'm thinking of officiating. Since it's new, I can probably get in on the ground floor and work my way up to the pros pretty quick. Of course I'm talking about javelin catching.

Well, usually, only the freshmen compete because they are guaranteed a starting position. If they survive to become sophomores, they move on to other events.

[dave30]

Junior High Volleyball.

[Kingsman1288]

As the joke in my association goes,

If you want to steal money from a school, become a volleyball official

[Texas Aggie]

Junior High Volleyball.

Every year at basketball camps, we chat about other sports. I've found a BUNCH of guys who've started doing volleyball and talk about it like they are stealing money. When I tell them I do football, they sneer at me -- hate the weather (rarely a problem, except last year), the rules, the uniform (got a point there), etc. But I did volleyball for 2 years and while I love the sport, I had to take uppers to stay awake during my games and couldn't wait for them to end. I had, I think, ONE match -- a playoff game that matched 2 good teams -- where I wanted it to go 3 games. Everything else I wanted it over with, so I decided it wasn't worth it.

The volleyball uniform rocks! I'll give them that.