Advancement
 

Hello all, i'm new here and also new to reffing so any advice feedback or suggestions you offer would be greatly appreciated. I want to advance to the D-1 level and I would like to know how many years would be realistic to attain that goal?

FYI- This is my first season reffing JV(IAABO Cadet 2)

Welcome to the Forum! If you lived in SoCal you could make it in 3 seasons. :D

rhody,

tref's reply is an inside joke here at the forum that SoCal refs move up very quickly. I believe the joke started when some guy came here shooting his mouth off that he was God's gift to officiating.

thanks for the reply, I will use this summer to get more games and experience under my belt. I have a great mentor who is a top level D-1 ref but its always good to get an unbiased opinion.

oh ok....lol....way to break the new guy in:)

Many times having the right person recommend you to the right people helps get you to where you wanna be sooner.

In order to move up, you must know the first rule of officiating. Do you?

Hey - he's a newbie. :rolleyes:

thanks for the feedback guys

Moving up the ranks
 

My advice to you would be to be patient and not get in too much of a rush to get to the Division I level. Sometimes a bad first impression can have a lasting impact. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't challenge yourself and go officiate levels that will be learning experiences. Going to 2-3 camps per summer (both instructional and try-out camps) will assist you attaining your goals. Having a mentor gives you a big head start. Try to get some game tape and see how your play calling is, how you look with your running, signals, mechanics and communication. The higher levels you go, it's more about game management and how you handle coaches (but you still need to be accurate with calls). Basketball officiating is very rewarding, but you will run into some individuals that will cut you down or throw you under the bus...so just do your best, be approachable, take feedback and apply what works for you, and always treat the game (regardless of the level) with the utmost respect. Then you'll be well on your way! Best of luck and hope to see you on TV one day.

Rhode Island, set reasonable goals. It takes experience more so than anything else to become a good official. So you want to work toward each step...JV, Varsity, D3, D2, D1. No need to be in a hurry, you have MUCH to learn.

IAABO used to have summer camps in New England. Try to go to one if you can. I know of one in Maine if you PM me.

Watch and talk to any officials on your IAABO board who work college. Most guys who work DIII & DII also work HS games on the nights they're not working a college game.
If you are from RI....watch one of your fellow RI refs work the NCAA's on TV this week. Not all that long ago Michael Smith was starting out on the IAABO board in RI just like you.....last year he worked the Final Four.

Thanks for all the great advice fellows, this forum is a great place for green officials like myself.

Which Final Four is that?

I think the guy that he was referring to from last years final four is Michael Stephens, he's my mentor