First Night out for our Rookies

[Andy]

Originally Posted by msrock1954

Wish we had some kind of mentoring system here in Michigan, as too many young officials have bad experiences right off the bat and give it up!!!! A mentor is a great way for brining new blood into officiating, as I know when I was starting out and working with a much more experienced official I felt much more comfortable. I had no trainers, mentors, but more or less learned by the seat of my pants and continue to learn something new every season!!!! Not that I think I know all there is to know, but I'd love to be a mentor to a young official, as I know I could help them avoid some of the bad habits and mistakes I made when starting out!!!!

Then I would challenge you to get a program started in your area. Schedule some time with your UIC to get him to buy into it and get going. As all of us old farts (myself included) keep getting older, we need to make sure that we are getting new young blood in the Blue. I, too, love being able to pass on the knowledge I've accumulated from my mentors to help a newer umpire who desires to get better.