Becoming a Volleyball Official

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

O&P - I think you are making a mistake! I had never played the game outside of PE/backyard. whatever either. When I started, I could not rven remember the last time I had even seen a match! Heck, I had never blown a whistle before!! As a long time, somewhat jaded softball ump, it has been quite an experience trying to pick up on what this game is all about.

Give it a shot - take the local hs clinic....do a season or two of low level school games, THEN see what you think! The investment in equipment is minimal, so its not like a lot of sports where you would be stuck with a boatload of gear. Most school seasons are an intense month + of matches, so at the very least, you get a nice months worth of fees! I bet you would find yourself enjoying yourself a LOT - the kids are all great, almost all of the COACHES at that level are great. And remember, even if all you ever do are low level school games, its something you can do long past the time you can work the other, more physically demanding sports. I worked with one of our brand new officials this year, and we were chatting before the match, and he said his son had taken the course, but had dropped out. This guy said he yelled at him, telling that exact same thing -"you idiot, you can do this until you are 90!!!"

You HAVE to love a sport where the most you have to replace after a season's work is a whistle, and maybe a shirt....