To R or Not to R, that is the question...

[Official_21]

I would like some opinions from some experienced members on the following:

I am a 2 year (2004-2006, had to stop due to some family issues arising) official who just got back into officiating.

I reffed my first game today to get some experience at the R position <8th grade game>. While I made some mistakes, the game went rather well since it was a blowout <61-0 final, running clock 2nd half, 8 min quarters, with coaches agreement>.

At the half, my co-officials and myself were having a discussion and they advised me that I should work the wing more <One was a Div 5 and one was a Div 4> before going to referee <I take constructive criticism well, so its no skin off my back  >.

Now on the flip side, I asked some experienced members at a chapter meeting and they told me I should work the R position to get the experience and to learn the game.

So with all that being said, what do I do, since I am getting conflicting advice from various sources 

[110]

I'd go with the vets. The white cap is nowhere for a sophomore.... four-five years, with some training from a veteran U who will help you with poise, rules, signals ....

Poise. You gotta LOOK like you know what yer doing.

If you really wanna white cap, practice your signals (all of 'em) in front of a mirror, regularly. Then go through the casebooks and headscratchers, but don't write the answer. Visualize what you've got, with the various officials reporting to you, with flags in various spots and players milling around. Role play the whole thing in your own head, then give preliminary signals, say what you'd say to the captains, say the instructions you'd give your U, then give your final signals.

[Official_21]

The problem is, with a majority of our sub varsity games, we work 3 man crews <R, H and LJ>.

Very rarely will we get a 4-man crew <which adds a U to the mix> at a SV game.

But I will take the rest of what you said to heart 

[940AC]

The problem is, with a majority of our sub varsity games, we work 3 man crews <R, H and LJ>.

Very rarely will we get a 4-man crew <which adds a U to the mix> at a SV game.

But I will take the rest of what you said to heart 

Wow, y'all have to work 3 man crews on most SV games? Ouch!

[Official_21]

We are lucky to even have 3 man crews for SV...back when I first started, I worked some games with 2 man crews and almost had to work a game by myself.

[DallasLJ]

I could not disagree more with your fellow officials.  The best place to learn to work R is during those SV games.  As a 20 year vet, I often make 2nd and 3rd year guys work at least 1 of the 2 games at R.  As I tell them, I won't let them screw it up -- and at some point there are going to show up for a SV game and be the senior guy with a bunch of rookies and they are going to have to know what to do.  If I can U will they work R, I try to do that, but otherwise, I will work LJ so they can look to me every time they have to signal a penalty, and I can help them with clock management.

  Just my humble opinion.

[Joe Stack]

Start working R as much as you can. As a crew chief, I want my guys to know what I'm doing on any given play as much as possible. If we have a long pass play,t hey know I'm not going to know what the result of the play is because I'm 100% focused on the QB. So they need to let me know what happened -- first down, interception, touchdown, etc.

That works both ways. You still need to know how to work the wings and other positions. Tell your varsity assignor that you'd like to R 6 man games if they are available. This will give you Varsity R experience and teach you how to handle a crew -- and coaches. I worked R in a varsity game my third year and by my 5th, was a crew chief. I was a bit ahead of the curve with previous officiating experience, but it can be done. And this isn't in a particularly small chapter, either.

[BankerRef]

It is great to get well rounded experience and working R for these games certainly doesn't hurt but you have to think about your goals when you make these decisions.  If you are looking to move up to the varsity level and your most likely path is working on the line then I would take every opportunity to become as proficient as possible at that position until I got a spot for varsity games.  If you have a desire to eventually work as a R for varsity games you can start working there more on subvarsity after you have your varsity status secured.   If it is possible in your association and you want to break in as a Referee then work there as much as possible now.

[Official_21]

It is great to get well rounded experience and working R for these games certainly doesn't hurt but you have to think about your goals when you make these decisions.  If you are looking to move up to the varsity level and your most likely path is working on the line then I would take every opportunity to become as proficient as possible at that position until I got a spot for varsity games.  If you have a desire to eventually work as a R for varsity games you can start working there more on subvarsity after you have your varsity status secured.   If it is possible in your association and you want to break in as a Referee then work there as much as possible now.

I didn't think of it that way.

When I first started officiating, I wanted to work at U (And still do).

The problem is, most of the games I am currently working at the SV level, as mentioned previously, use 3 officials.

So in the mean time, it looks like I will be getting experience at R and the wings, until the opportunity to work U comes up.

[blindref757]

You'll be a better R if you know all 5 positions on the field.  For that matter, you'll be a better rookie if you know all 5 positions on the field because you can fill in anywhere there is an opening. 

The best training is experience and when you are eventually in charge of a crew, you'll have the credibility to say to that new kid, "When I was coming up as a back judge, I found that....".  You'll be more respected and better qualified knowing it all than only knowing your piece.

In our chapter, BankerRef has been one of those guys who has worked everywhere on the field and he does an excellent job at every position.  His advice is solid.

[BankerRef]

It is too bad you don't have much opportunity to work at umpire for subvarsity games.  It is truly a unique and sometimes frightening perspective on the game.  If that is where you ulitimately want to work then I suggest you work R as much as possible because it is as close as you will get with 3 men.  While the view is different looking from the offensive backfield, for 3 man mechanics the R is really a hybrid R/U.

Thanks blind.

[Official_21]

Thanks for all the advice that has been given.

It's nice to have experienced officials pitch in to help me sort out everything