Youngest Official You Have Worked With or Seen
 

Just wondering if any of you on here have worked with some pretty young officials or have any in your associations. How "old" you define young is up to yall.

i'm 22, but there are a couple of guys younger than i am in my association (i think).

Our local kids rec league trains HS kids for rec games. However, years ago, we (meaning mostly me) actually would train MS kids to work 3rd and 4th grade games.

In our Assocition we have had several 18-20 yr olds work MS, F/JV games and the like. Rare though. We have one early 20's official here that does HS V games. He's the "exception to the rule."

Similar to Mark, our Rec League will train anyone over 13 to do games. The youngest officials will do the 7/8 yr old league (they don't keep score). Based on evaluations is what level of game you will do up to 18U. I've had some 19/20 yr olds do 18U games with me before. Again, they're the exception to the rule - book knowledge, maturity, wisdom, experience, game management skills, composure, etc. are tough at that young age and all come into play. Some develop it earlier than others.

Maybe Justacoach will come along and let you know what his kids do/have done. I've reffed with them for yrs at many levels.

Good for you Mark! I think that's something to be very proud of. I've attempted to get more young people in the area to do basketball and baseball but I meet a lot of resistance and lack of interest. I donate some time to the local University's intramural program each year and that subdues (a little) my ambitious to get the younger crowd involved.

-Josh

HS Varsity: We had a 20 year-old work on my board this season. His father is an "esteemed" member of this forum

College: Had 2 friends who broke in the college ranks at the age of 22.

I just turned 20 and find it hard (maybe more weird) to officiate Varsity and Div. II ball under what you described (composure, wisdom, ect.) Not to say that I don't convey those qualities, but to convey them consistently is what I find difficult. The whole place notices when someone my age walks onto the court and to me it feels as if I have to perform at a higher level with being the "odd one out" and youngest. Its hard to talk on the subject in my association since I have the next to youngest beat by 8 - 9 years, so I thought I would bring it up here. Does anyone view this the same or offer any tips?

I started officiating when I was 14.
I am 20 now and work HS varsity and Junior College Womans.

I cannot even remember. Not something I concern myself with, but for a long time not many people were younger than me. Even the newer guys are older than I am now in many cases. I would suspect I have worked with an 18 year old, but I cannot remember for sure.

Peace

My Wild Oats Have Turned Into All-Bran (Ziggy) ...
 

Everybody that I work with, or observe, is younger than me. And they're getting younger every year. At least the players stay the same age every year.

I've worked with some officials who are 18 and just starting out. I have also been that 18 year working with veteran officials. Now, I am 25 and back in the role of being the young official since I am working D2 and D3 college ball.

I'm 22...
 

+1 You just described my exact situation as well. I just work as hard as I can and do the best job I can. I found it became difficult when I went from Frosh/JV to Varsity. Frosh/JV coaches never really gave me much grief, and maybe that's because a lot of them around here were on the younger side as well. With Varsity coaches, I was the young one and the new face. So guess who they decided to pick on during the games? Over the past 2 seasons though, most have backed down and I like to think that's because I proved I work hard and do a good job.

On a side note, what really irks me is when I'm working with a partner and they feel they have to come in and "save" me from a coach or some other situation. I feel it's moves like those that make it difficult for a young official because it gives the coaches and anyone else watching the impression that they can't handle the game or level being played.

a useful study. Thank you.

I didn't really think we had 'esteemed' members on this forum. I thought that was the stuff made of blue fonts.

Thank you for sharing. an interesting topic. + rep

This to me falls right under "It is what it is" I was in that position just about a couple of years ago. It really is just a matter of experience, coaches seeing you time and time again and going out there and reffing your game consistently. It is about "buy in". It just takes time for coaches to buy in to what you are selling. Stay confident, but not cocky (tough line to walk) and approachable but still stern (know when to draw the line w/ coaches and players) and you will gain your respect eventually...

spammers are off to an early start tonight. wonder if they'll get paid OT.

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., :D. And boy did I feel old and I still feel old, LOL.

MTD, Sr.

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.

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.

Cut him a break......
 

Maybe he's just Cal and not SoCal! :p

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

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.

@ 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

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.

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. :rolleyes:

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.

I've got to admit, I envy you guys that are starting out very young. I hope you enjoy it, become good at it (if you're not already), and keep at it.

I regret not starting sooner, but my career and family situation (coach rob) wouldn't allow me to start until my kids were grown. Hopefully, my jealth will permit me to continue for many yrs to come.

PS - Oldest I've seen is 69 yr old. I was on the court with him two yrs ago when a VG player fell into him on the endline and blew out his knee. Saw him doing a VG scrimmage last yr - he doesn't get up and down the court too well anymore, but knows the rules and can still manage a game (NCAA bound?). ;)

I only started officiating basketball in my thirties but my first officiating experience was when I was 16. I was umpiring in a local rec softball league. In one of my first games, The shortstop on one team was my high school phys ed teacher and he was a legend in my hometown. He had played minor pro hockey and he had been a tremendous baseball player growing up. To say the least, I was intimidated by him. There was a close play at second and "local legend" gets on my case. It gets quite heated and I threaten to throw him out if he doesn't calm down. All I could think of is that people probably noticed that I was shaking in my boots trying to stand up to a huge man in his thirties. After the game, many people came over and congratulated me for how I handled the situation. It gave me confidance to continue because there was nobody more intimidating in that league than him. My three years of umpiring as a teenager was one of the reasons I decided to come back to officiating in my thirties. Now I work basketball and baseball.

In the south Chicago suburb where I grew up (Chicago Heights) the kids baseball program was run by the park district. I was able to umpire 8, 9 and 10 year old kids games when I was 13. I did it for three seasons. Back then (the sixties), there was only one official on the field. We had to make every call and we stood behind the pitcher. I think we got paid 50 cents per game and I usually worked two or three on a Saturday. It was more money than my weekly allowance. ;)

pulchritude
 

I have worked with pretty officials of various ages.

29 and working NCAA Women's Touney
 

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......

3 years old.

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

Hey, If I Didn't Post It, You All Know That Mark Padgett Would Have ...
 

This official?

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...db14085e7963fc

Read Post #5 of this thread: http://forum.officiating.com/basketb...officials.html.

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

MTD, Sr.

In that thread tomegun confirms the SoCal career path:

She's actually pretty good...doesn't put up with any $hit.

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/...0001/ch2-s.jpg

I thought I told you guys not to post pictures of my wife! :cool: