Economics of Officiating

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

The competition to move up to the V level is very intense. Not enough retirees or people departing to allow those qualified, or deemed qualified to move up.

"Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down." (Jimmy Durante)

Here in my little corner of Connecticut, we don't treat varsity officials like the pope, or a Supreme Court justice. Just like ratings (peer evaluations, refresher exam, meeting attendance, availability to assigning commissioner), and rankings, can move an official "up the ladder" (subvarsity to split to varsity), the same rating, and ranking, system can move an official "down the ladder".

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

"Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down." (Jimmy Durante)

I'm not being mean, just saying..... Being in a military area, we may have a greater turnover of officials than most (homes too). So, we have the normal amount of retirees, I suppose, and then a fairly healthy number of those coming in and departing. Our stable is pretty healthy.

[amusedofficial]

There are a certain number of fat and lazy people past their prime who continue to work at high levels. A lot of times it is because a tightly knit group is in control.

There are also people petrified of being displaced by new talent. It's easier to bury new talent than to out-shine new talent.

It's also that way in the world of officiating.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

There are a certain number of fat and lazy people past their prime who continue to work at high levels. A lot of times it is because a tightly knit group is in control.

There are also people petrified of being displaced by new talent. It's easier to bury new talent than to out-shine new talent.

It's also that way in the world of officiating.

Or is it that a lot of younger, newer officials think they can handle the game when they clearly can't? A lot of officials are not realistic about their talents and that is not just about older officials. There is after all a reason that the older guys stick around and it is not always because of the groups or assignors.

As a clinician there are a lot of guys that think they can work anything and cannot handle summer or off-season ball properly. And in my role as a clinician it is not in my interest to hold anyone back or to promote anyone. I am there to evaluate the talent that is in front of me and pass along who can work.

Peace