Training -> moving up in your chapters

[dammitbobby]

How does your chapter handles training, particularly for 1st-3rd year officials? 

Our chapter has a weekly meeting for rookies and 2nd years, but nothing beyond that, no formal feedback loop.  We don't use crews, and tend to get little feedback from other officials (with some exceptions, and those exceptions are absolutely amazing at this)

I'm trying to avoid the axiom of a 20-year official having 20 years of rookie/beginner-level experience; instead, I want to be doing the right things to have a true 20 years of experience and knowledge.  What else are you guys doing, from a training/mentoring perspective, to make sure that doesn't happen to your newer officials?  As part of that, obviously rules and mechanics self-study is vital, and with lots and lots and lots of snaps (and I take every single game I am assigned and often volunteer for more).  What else?

Part of this also stems from wanting to move up to better, more competitive games, which requires a higher caliber of official.  (part of it also stems from a love of structure, and emphasis on leadership)  Is there a clear learning path for new officials, for moving up/advancing?  How do you evaluate your officials?  What's the criteria for moving up?  Is it just X amount of years/games/snaps?

[JasonTX]

What is your definition of moving up? In our chapter we do a complete review of all of our varsity games with assigned evaluators.  They provide feedback and everyone in the chapter can view the feedback.  Then during our chapter meetings we'll put together a training video and we'll use that for discussion.  So regardless if you are a 1st year or 30 year, you are being trained.  Our evaluations are tracked to show Correct Calls, Incorrect Calls, Incorrect No-Calls, and Correct No-Calls.  From there we are able to see what areas we are struggling with as a chapter and if needed one on one training for someone who may be struggling in an area.  In HUDL all the fouls are listed and each official can sort them based upon the accuracy of the foul.  Our system allows us to identify if the issue is rules related or mechanics related so we can take corrective measures.  As far as "moving up", I'm not sure what that means.  If it means working varsity games, well, rookies should be prepared to work varsity in our chapter.  For subvarsity games, the veteran feedback is crucial.

[dammitbobby]

So we're not equipped to do any of those kinds of things... it's like pulling teeth to get film sent to us in Hudl.  We don't have evaluators, that I know of; we're so short handed that we every available body is on a whistle Thursdays and Fridays.  I know the mechanics manuals say to record all fouls, I've yet to see a single person write one down (excepting UNS and targeting.)  Our rookies work varsity usually from week one, as well.

What I meant by moving up, was - with the resources I have - what can I do to be considered ready/competent enough to call bigger/more impactful games. My deal is, I always want to get better, and while studying mechanics and rules and snaps are part of that, what else can I do?  Or, if that's pretty much it, how can I do that more effectively?

I'm a pretty driven individual when it comes to setting a goal, and I have a specific goal in mind (2 actually) around officiating and I want to make sure I'm doing the things I need to, to get there.

[Covid 22]

Just my perspective:

You are at a disadvantage because of the makeup and procedures in your chapter.  Not that they are wrong but I think having crews helps an official mature more quickly in officiating.

In your case, I would pick out the top two or three R's and ask to be put with them on sub-varsity nights.   The only way to move up is with someone with contacts and experience noticing you and championing you to others.

Good luck

[ElvisLives]

The key is: What do you want in the way of advancement?
Is that to work as many games as possible, largely for the financial return? If so, just make yourself available. There will probably never be a lack of assignments for you, even if your knowledge and skills stagnate at the 3rd year level.

Is that to regularly work "prize" high school assignments (perceived or actual)? If so, you'll need to align yourself with folks working those types of assignments, and with whom you can show compatibility, so you are on their radar when the time comes. The skills and knowledge you will need to develop will vary with the expectations of those other folks.

Is that to progress to NCAA football? Now you are in a totally different universe. At that level there is no such thing as knowing enough to just get by. You must know rules backward and forward. Your mechanics must solid and consistent, and what is expected of officials at that level, i.e., you must know CCA mechanics thoroughly. But, the biggest hurdle is that you must be committed and patient. You have to be willing and able to go wherever, whenever, you must to get the exposure needed. In this day, unfortunately, that means spending a lot of money attending the many clinics that can be found in virtually every area of the country, today. And you might do that for many years, before you get an opportunity at even DII, much less FBS - if you get an opportunity at all. You must be in really good physical condition. That can't be overstated. You simply must be self-motivated to get into the rule book (and mechanics manuals).  Join - or start - study groups. Show lots of hustle. Wow. There is so much more. If you can find an FBS mentor, listen, learn, and be patient.
 
Is that to progress to the NFL? Well, the good news is that the NFL is in the same universe as FBS, but is more like the Sun than simply a planet. In addition to rules and mechanics skills, now your judgment is really put to the test (even more than at FBS, if that is possible). This requires 7 days per week, 365 days per year video review, philosophy study, on, and on, and on. It is, essentially, a full-time job. Indeed, it is the only employment a number of NFL guys have, although most are otherwise professionally skilled and employed.

That's my nutshell for you.
 

[JasonTX]

So we're not equipped to do any of those kinds of things... it's like pulling teeth to get film sent to us in Hudl.  We don't have evaluators, that I know of; we're so short handed that we every available body is on a whistle Thursdays and Fridays.  I know the mechanics manuals say to record all fouls, I've yet to see a single person write one down (excepting UNS and targeting.)  Our rookies work varsity usually from week one, as well.

What I meant by moving up, was - with the resources I have - what can I do to be considered ready/competent enough to call bigger/more impactful games. My deal is, I always want to get better, and while studying mechanics and rules and snaps are part of that, what else can I do?  Or, if that's pretty much it, how can I do that more effectively?

I'm a pretty driven individual when it comes to setting a goal, and I have a specific goal in mind (2 actually) around officiating and I want to make sure I'm doing the things I need to, to get there.

You can PM me with the chapter you are in if you don't want to publicly disclose that.  Maybe I can assist.  Our chapter has 88 members and we work in crews so not sure how big your chapter is.  As for HUDL, someone in the chapter needs to become the HUDL guy.  Maybe you?  We don't wait around for the coaches to voluntarily send us the game.  When I get home after my game each Friday, I do a request for the game within HUDL.  By the time I wake up Saturday morning we probably have 75% of the games.  Then I begin nudging the coaches by either text or email to send the game.  So far we have received 100% of our games.  The crews have usually entered their foul reports on Friday night and then I will share the games when the crew and the evaluator.  The crew will then watch their game and enter the play numbers from HUDL onto their foul report.  From there the evaluator goes through each play and adds comments and scores each foul called or not called.  It takes work and dedication but I will tell you this, if you took on a task like that you will learn tons. 

[dammitbobby]

Thanks - PM sent

[DieHardCubFan]

Our chapter is in District 10 and we have between 150-175 officials on paper. 

We have been rather fortunate to have some extremely excellent training over the past few years, both for our newer officials and our more seasoned officials (during our general meetings).  For the new officials, they have had training from basic rules to mechanics (3, 4, and even 5 man), video training, and even on-the-field training.  Newer officials are paired up with a veteran official who can then mentor the newer guy.  For our genera meetings (and thus all of our officials) we have game film instruction, and discussions on a variety of topics.