They can't do this to me!
 

My season's been over for awhile now, and I've been itching to get back on the court since the final buzzer.

A couple of assignors have already sent some games for next season my way. First one's not til Novermber 27th. I don't want to wait that long!

This is my first offseason, so I don't have anything to reference this with, but are the rest of you picking up assignments now as well? Or is this something that varies all over the place?

Where are you? In NYC we have more games now than during the season ha.

AAU, Rec Leagues, Summer Leagues.

+1

Summer h.s. leagues have been my bread n butter the last 3 summers. Kids leagues and tournaments are abundant as well in the Midwest.

I know. I wasn't available for the AAU games I've heard about thus far, though I suppose I should do some investigating.

I haven't heard anything from anyone on summer leagues or spring rec leagues. I'm going to sit down and do some digging.

I really am happy that a couple of assignors have noticed me after just one season and given me a bunch of games already.

I'm in the suburbs of Chicago.

There are games all summer long. You will have plenty of times to work. Just keep up with your email and answer them and you should get games. I have already received so many emails about games that I cannot work or will not work. Also the games do not come from the traditional assignors. Many games are assigned by regular officials that do not assign anything but a particular league. More will be coming as time goes along.

Peace

Don't you work NDA games? You know - the National Driveway Association. Here's their training book for their players.

http://www.basketballcoach48.com/driveway3.gif

I used to have a hoop in my driveway, bolted to the siding on the front of the garage.

My dad decided to re-side the garage, and didn't put the hoop back on...

I went through the same thing for my first off-seson. I had so enjoyed refereeing that the thought of a long layoff wasn't great. I ended up doing two things. I started umpiring baseball; that has been a good experience but I must admit that I do not enjoy it nearly as much as basketball. I have also made myself available for summer basketball. In my area, there isn't alot of summer ball but my assignor know that I will work games in the summer whereas many in my area will not. In fact, I even referee a spring league for free. The guy who runs it is a friend of mine and I offered to help referee two years ago free of charge. I get exercise and a chance to blow the whistle in time of the year where I wouldn't work anywhere else.

Good luck with your withdrawal.

Oh and don't forget the most important use of your summer time - GO TO CAMP!

Mix it up with some teaching camps at both your local association level as well as a few outside ones.

The days of playing multi-sports at the amateur level are gone. Basketball is year-round now, so it is just a matter of finding the games.

You may want to invest in a camp. The right "teaching" camps have been invaluable in my development. Some camps are for networking only and do little to develop the officials. so my advice is to do your research beforehand and know what you are getting into.

While this is true in some areas, not in all. The last metro area I lived in (a very small area for which "metro" would be an exaggeration) didn't have jack for summer ball. Some AAU ball after the season, but it was over by March Madness.

I am one of the fortunate ones who lives in a large metropolitan area and can do ball 12 months a yr. While some months are better than others, and of course the winter HS season gets me the most games, I start spring HS ball at the end of Apr, followed by summer Rec and HS Ball and into the fall scrimmages.

Our spring league is like camp for me as our trainers are out in full force for every game.

I managed to do 181 games last yr - about half at the V and 11th/12th grade level. But, my body betrayed me a bit for the first time as I started to break down a bit - sad when reality hits you right upside the head....While it beats the alternative, I'm a gettin old! :(