Where is the best officiated basketball played?
 

I was talking with my mentor (who also happens to be one of the local HS and college assigners) this AM and we were disucssing various topics related to my development. He told me that given where I am now as an official, and where I want to go, the best thing I could do was watch D1 girls basketball. He said those guys are young (relatviely), have good judgement, game managment, and are driven as almost all of them want to be major D1 men officials someday.

In your opinion, where can we find the best officaited basketball today?

It's doubtful the part I've bolded is true.

Your mentor is wrong -- most NCAAW D1 officials do NOT want to be D1 NCAAM officials.

You can find good officials (and bad officials) at all levels. You should watch at whatever level your goal is -- and recognize that you can learn what not to do as well as what to do.

Maybe I inferred that incorrectly from him, it was a brief chat while on the ride to work. I believe his exact language was something to the effect of "lower level college and women's games". It might be area specific here as he assigns much of the college stuff around here.

At any of my varsity games

Should I avoid your JV games?

+1

Yes, I don't use a lanyard

Colorado

Ask me again tomorrow though :D

Still not a valid statement. Many at that level want to become NCAAW D1 officials; not (as) many want to become NCAAM D1 officials.

I did not take the D1 comment as to what everyone wants to do that work that level around the country. I took that comment to mean that is who works that level in that area. He probably would know what those guys desire.

Also most young 20 something officials I know want to work D1 or the NBA. Now they might not know what it takes to get there, but that is in my experience by far. Oh and they do not envision themselves to work D1 Women's basketball. At least not the vast majority of officials who are male and want to work what they see on TV. Maybe that will change, but not at this moment when the vast majority of games on TV are Men's basketball with packed crowds.

Peace

Maybe he meant the "lower level college" officials were NCAAM officials who wanted to move up to D1. And that they, along with NCAAW officials have good mechanics, game management, etc. and would be ideal to observe for those reasons. IDK....but based on my perspective, Bob is right.

Most NCAAW D1 officials I have talked to have no aspirations of moving to the men's side. In fact, I thought it was kind of a given that once you choose a side to pursue, that's pretty much the track you stay on.

Regardless, I think the best advice in this thread was also given by Bob. Decide on the level you want to work then observe and collect info on that level as much as possible. There are examples of great, good, and bad officiating at all levels.

Why in NE Ohio of course (and wherever I am officiating, :D).

MTD, Sr.

Easy Answer ...
 

My little corner of the Provision State.

Because ur just imitating the nba guys right...:)