Arizona here I come

[Andy]

Haven't worked basketball for several years, but I am an AIA official for other sports. You do have to register with the AIA in order to work HS and, yes you will come in as a Level 5 official, meaning that you are new to Arizona, but have experience. I would recommend that you have any assignors or other officers from any associations that you work for provide a letter of recommendation to bring with you.

I believe that they still do a preseason scrimmage for the new, experienced officials and place them accordingly. You are rated as a level 1, 2, 3, or 4 official. Level 1 officials will have an almost exclusive varsity schedule and be eligible for postseason assignments. Level 2 officials may get some regular season varsity games, but no postseason. Level 3 and 4 officials will get exclusively sub varsity. Level 4 is a brand new official.

As far as college ball, Arizona is somewhat unique in that we don't have a wide variety. We have a JUCO league with about 12 schools across the state. There is one DII school and a couple of NAIA (I think) schools, then the three DI schools. The JUCO league used to be pretty tough to get into, they held a tryout at a scrimmage in Sept or Oct, if I remember correctly.

If you would like to send me a PM, I can probably get you some contact names to help with the transition.

[stripes]

My first year I did not get a partner. I just floated and filled in where needed. I got to know a lot of the guys (and ladies) and had a great experience. Jeanne Kosower (sp?) the AIA assigner was VERY fair with me as I worked every night I was available (I was ranked as a #1) and was available to go all over the valley.

Picking a partner is critical and I did not want to get hooked up with anyone until I knew them and they knew me. Halfway through the season I was assigned to a partner who's partner was injured and could not work the second half of the season. I had a partner my second year and it worked out fine, we had a full varsity schedule.