What difference does it make if the best officials work the so-called top games. You get paid the same whether you have the top game of the night or the bottom game. Just go out and do the best you can and not worry about the other stuff. Besides, it seems to me that your interest lies in officiating college basketball, so in the end, you will either be doing HS games to fill in your non-college nights or you will stop doing them all together. Eventually this type of nonsense about how or who gets assigned to what games will no longer have any significance for you.

Where did I mention top games or bottom games? Ever hear of holiday tournaments and post-season games? Maybe you're one of those guys who makes snide comments to officials who go to camp.

And I already work a college schedule, and I've been doing so for a few years now. I have tremendous relationships with my current HS assignors. And they both appreciate having college guys on their HS staffs. And the college guys I know who still work HS ball, do so in a professional manner.

But thanks, for assuming I'm just talking out the side of my neck with no basis for my statements. :rolleyes:

It makes a helluva lot of difference to the coaches, players and fans. And if you're an official, it should make a difference to you. It reflects poorly upon the association, the assignor and the association members when officials are assigned to games who can't handle them.

That's why you work, just to get paid?

Wow. Unbelievable.

Hmmm, I think what and when I get assigned would have significance to me. I think that's why I have a block-out calendar. In fact, I even have one assignor who allows us to put mileage limitations for each day of the week. And guess what, I utilize that option. Hope that doesn't offend you also.

BNR and BktBallRef, I think johnny d was talking about his association and his frustrations, building on what he quoted BNR as saying. I think he was using "you" in a rhetorical sense.

Admirable of you to look on the bright side, but this would contradict that line of thinking:

And since he has already worked 3 college games and 2 scrimmages, I know he shouldn't have any frustration with his local association, as they are no longer of any significance to him.

Never implied you were talking without basis, I believe you when you say they aren't doing the job the right way. My only point is that their behavior is not stopping you from reaching your goals, so it isn't worth getting upset about.

Exactly. It is unbelievable that you would be so worked up about something as insignificant as who is working the perceived big games rather than worrying about things you can control as an individual.

Rookie, I am curious to find out what happens throughout the next few weeks/ season with your elections, association, and if any changes happen. I think the most frustrating part for me is going to at least 2 camps every summer, studying the crap out of the rule book, case book, and official's manual, and then realize that the varsity officials are only required to attend camp once every three years, and realize that they don't know that the ball is dead after a made basket even though the clock is running and that simultaneous violations on a free throw goes to the arrow and such, yet they maintain their same varsity assignments, even though they probably haven't cracked a rule book in years. That is a really long sentence.

Our 4 main evaluators don't officiate anymore and I have a lot of respect for them, but I feel like they should be putting the varsity guys under the same scrutiny as any other official. Let the dead wood drift away and let the motivated, dedicated, respect for the game, growth officials fill in those spots. I think it is better for the game, better for the reputation of the association, and just helps improve the game all around. Then when these really motivated guys get to where they want to go, I think they would be more inclined to give back and help other nwere like minded officials to move up and improve. Just my 2 or 3 cents.

It's Not for Life ...
 

Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we have a rating system (80% peer evaluations), and a ranking system, that allows for everyone, varsity included, to move both up, and down.

As our former assignment commissioner used to say, "Being a varsity basketball official isn't the same as being the Pope, or a Supreme Court Justice".

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

Once again I feel so blessed that I do not have to deal with this kind of crap.

Peace

Billy brings up something I was thinking about (scary, I know). Is there a system in place where officials rate one another? We don't have one in NYC and I know I've heard the grumbling but from what I've seen on the public school side of things those who should move up seem to be moving up.

Things are different in the Catholic/Private schools. I know more than a few officials - and have heard of many others - who work NCAAM games but haven't been put on BV level in the NYC Catholic/Private schools. Many have given up those leagues as a result.

We did until this year. Certified officials (the highest classification out of 3 levels) were allowed to rate each official they worked with twice in a season. Well because of the way it was done by many trying to get an advantage, they took that ability away before this school year. Now all our ratings are based on coaches for varsity contests. There are other things considered for playoffs and an administrator with the IHSA makes all post season assignments. And they can consider other things outside of our overall Power Rating system.

Peace

I posted my woes on here last season and it lead to a pretty decent discussion on the matter. Incidentally, the largest chapter in this area has gone from one of the most disorganized cluster youknowwhats to one of the better organized ones. A lot of that had to do with the voting in of new leadership and the willingness of the membership to improve it.

The politics will eat you up if you let it. I've come to grips with that in basketball...I'm still getting there with football. :)

Work on what you can control. Contribute what you can and work to make changes. Grand sweeping changes are rare, gradual changes in direction are much more common and feasible. You have to have patience to play the game if that's what you want to do.

Rut is also dead on. This isn't a basketball thing. I have seen similar things in other organizations not having anything to do with officiating.

Actually what is has done is stagnate the development of young officials here on the Peninsula. We don't have any new officials hungry to get better. I got into officiating at 37, I'm 49 now. I'm old. I got pick up on an NCAA roster in 2008 at 44. Since then only 2 guys from the Peninsula have been hired to NCAA-Mens staffs and both of them were in the process of moving up north the summers they were hired. A 49 year-old official shouldn't be the newest NCAA official in area with this much basketball going on year around.

You may only care about yourself, who knows. I like seeing young guys (and ladies) get better, get "big games", and get hired in college conferences. The environment of HS officiating where I live has killed officials passions for the game.

Because when those are the only games being played at the time, you are either working them or sitting at home.

You were the first person to bring up "so called big games". Seems to be on your mind more than anybody else's.