Getting picked up very young

[Kansas Ref]

Originally Posted by justacoach

I will simply say that our local HS association wanted to assign my #1 son to a preseason JV-G scrimmage the year he was on staff for a D1 conference and the NBA D-league. I am not averse to the idea you should create your own advancement opportunity and not be dependent on guidance or encouragement from the traditional groups. It is not in their interest to have you advance beyond their span of control.

*Interesting and insightful perspective. When you said that such traditional groups do not have a vested interest in you "advancing beyond their span of control [on you]"...Me like!

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

*Interesting and insightful perspective. When you said that such traditional groups do not have a vested interest in you "advancing beyond their span of control [on you]"...Me like!

That is not limited to young officials. I'm intimately familiar with an older official who swam through those same murky waters.

[Rich]

I moved a lot from my first year of officiating (1987) till I settled in at my current location 12 years ago.

I was terrible as an 18 year old, I'm sure. I just didn't fall into the right group and I was in college and it was just beer money. I worked my first varsity game my junior year of college, but I still wasn't very good.

Then I moved to grad school. Took me a season and a half to get promoted to varsity.

Moved again. Worked a full varsity schedule, but knew I was only staying for one season.

Moved again.

Moved again.

Moved again.

I've seen every kind of group, from the one who would watch you work for a few minutes and assign you like a veteran to those who had artificial rules in place that would have Earl Strom working 3+ years of JV girls.

Thankfully I moved to a place where I can direct my own HS schedule. I don't work EVERY conference in the area, but I end up with more games than I plan on working every season. I went to camps, my postseason assignments improved - last year I worked state -- 27 years and 6 states in. I'm a HS official for life. I work college football and college baseball and I still see myself as a HS guy first and foremost.

Now that I assign, I run into all kinds of officials. Guys who ask me what the game pays before I get a word out. Guys who are 18 and already think they're NBA-quality officials. Guys who are 40 year vets who get games who I won't hire based on what I see of them.

Until you remove people from the equation, this won't change.

And if I was young, pretty, and ran like a gazelle, I'd be looking to escape to NCAA or pro basketball as quickly as I could.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

... rules in place that would have Earl Strom working 3+ years of JV ...

I don't remember Earl Strom being a member of my local board, but that's the rule here, at least for now. Our current president is working on putting new system into place with no mandatory "waiting period" for new officials to work varsity games.