Youngest Official You Have Worked With or Seen

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by CaRef5

youngest official i've worked with was um 13 i think (it was my buddy) we both started at that age, working kids a year younger than we were.

I kept going and now am working college mens/juCo d3,d2 ball.

21 btw

Slackard. With that early of a start and being in California, you should have been doing D1 ball by 19.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Slackard. With that early of a start and being in California, you should have been doing D1 ball by 19.

Maybe he's just Cal and not SoCal!

[MD Longhorn]

I was umpiring baseball at 14. First got real training at officiating, though, and became a REAL official, at 22.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

On Thursday, December 13, 2007, I officiated a girls' Jr. H.S. (7th grade and 8th grade) DH with a young lad who was only 17 years, 9 months, and 17 days old (he was officiating his very the first basketball games of his career). And his name is Mark Thomas DeNucci, Jr., . And boy did I feel old and I still feel old, LOL.

MTD, Sr.

[just another ref]

A while back at the end of the night at our local rec league, I found myself alone, with one 11-12 year old game to go. I scanned the stands, asking for a volunteer to help. None appeared. My son, age 10, was present, having played in his own game earlier. I tossed him my extra whistle, and he joined me on the court.

[Mark Padgett]

Years ago, a buddy of mine who is a referee asked me if I would work with him at a "charity" game. The Portland Trailblazers had an alumni team (retired players) that would play against amateur teams to benefit non-profits. My buddy was a teacher at the local HS and they were having a game to raise money for the school athletic fund. Of course, our time was donated. I told him I would and brought along my oldest grandson, who was 11 at the time, to "shadow" me out on the court. I gave him a shirt and a whistle.

Understand these games are called in much the same manner as a Globetrotter game. The purpose of the game is just to entertain the fans and for everyone to have a good time. The Blazer alumni were playing a team of gym teachers and a few other teachers from the HS. Obviously it wasn't a "real" game and the Blazers made it a lot of fun. Sometimes they would steal the ball and then just hand it back to the other player and give a big bow. A few times they pretended to be confused and scored into the wrong basket, etc.

My grandson had a blast. He "mirrored" my calls. The players on both teams got a big kick out of having him out there. I knew a few of the Blazer players and during a timeout, I had my grandson go over to their huddle and give a T to Michael Harper, who I knew. Everyone in the gym just cracked up.

No doubt about it, it was the most fun I ever had as an official. Oh yeah - they raised about $3000.

[CaRef5]

@ MPadgett that's awesome! 11 years tops me big time! Hopefully the little guy keeps it up!

And I would be working Division 1, except for the whole college thing (which I'm graduating this semester btw!).

The thing I had to improve in "my game" was definitely communicating and making sure I had that credibility as soon as a coach had a "question." Hell, I'm still working on this! Hope it helps @NCHSAA

[APG]

I first started officiating rec ball when I was 18 and joined the local association and did Jr. High and high school when I was 20. Did my first small varsity game when I was 20. For the most part, I'm the young guy on the crew. I don't bring it up because to me it's a nonstarter.

[ref2coach]

My Son and His best friend took the new soccer referee training class when He was 9. Refereed his first u6 game the next weekend after his 10th Birthday. A few weeks later the 3 of us worked adult recreation game. He recently turned 21. Last night was working a HS District semi-final.

He also worked Rec. Basketball for 3 winters but dropped it says BB is not enough exercise.

[Mechanicsman]

I am 16 now. Last season I worked junior high games at 15. I have always been the youngest that I have seen, but I have encountered one 18yro.

[amusedofficial]

Originally Posted by NCHSAA

Just wondering if any of you on here have worked with some pretty young officials

I have worked with pretty officials of various ages.

[Multiple Sports]

I know of someone who accomplished this this year....... For all you young ones out there go the women's route. This would be impossible on the men's side......

[tjones1]

3 years old.

But, he was from California and started in D-III -- crazy!

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Multiple Sports

I know of someone who accomplished this this year....... For all you young ones out there go the women's route. This would be impossible on the men's side......

Read Post #5 of this thread: Youngest D-1 Officials.

This official also officiated six play-off games that year.

MTD, Sr.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Read Post #5 of this thread: Youngest D-1 Officials.

This official also officiated six play-off games that year.

MTD, Sr.

In that thread tomegun confirms the SoCal career path:

Originally Posted by tomegun

Concerning this discussion, here is the biggest travesty: there are many officials out there who would do a great job, are built like tanks and can run like a deer. But, they will either never get their shot on big TV games or will have filled out by the time they do. The crazy thing about it is I think there is more basketball on the east coast, but younger officials get a better chance on the west coast. Talk about going from 0-100mph, one of my friends went from doing Juco to the Pac-10 because that is how it is. He worked to the point where he got some conference games and had to resign; he is currently in Korea officiating their pro league. I regularly saw those opportunities on the east coast, but it often came down to politics.