An hour, 45 minute MS game

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by PG_Ref

Maybe where you are. In our area, most of the middle school games are competitive and are good for getting newer officials ready for JV (that is, before middle school sports was done away with). All depends on the talent level and matchups.

"competitive" and "talent" are very relative terms. Middle school games certainly don't prepare anyone for JV - maybe for freshman ball. But I tend to live in larger metro areas - JV is a very huge leap from middle school.

[PG_Ref]

Originally Posted by Smitty

"competitive" and "talent" are very relative terms. Middle school games certainly don't prepare anyone for JV - maybe for freshman ball. But I tend to live in larger metro areas - JV is a very huge leap from middle school.

Once again, maybe where you are. MS games absolutely can help a newer official better their mechanics and rules knowledge so that they can move up. And not all areas have freshman ball ... we certainly don't here.

[Corndog89]

I worked 4 years in Las Vegas and MS ball there is actually quite good and competitive...even the girls (oddly much, much better than JV girls). And its a great training ground if you put a conscientious, experienced guy with a newbie to train and mentor. And best of all is the environment. MS hoops is a social event, the first time many of these kids have attended a school event where they're not under constant parent or teacher supervision. There is a lot of noise, enthusiasm, and emotion from the crowd. MS coaches are generally not very proficient but act as though they're Bobby Knight. And MS parents are, well, MS parents. MS basketball is a challenge to officiate correctly and a hoot all at the same time. Pairing Joe Paycheck with a newbie or two newbies together is a bad formula for MS ball.