There are some very good game officials. And there are some that most obviously need to improve. I am curious to know what is being done by KHSAA to improve the skills of those officiating games? I have some suggestions, but would like to know first what is currently in place.

You have some suggestions for officials? You and everyone who has ever posted in this forum.

I would honestly like to know what type of training programs there are currently in place to help improve game officials. I am not starting this as a thread to bash officials. I honestly would like to know the current program of improving officials' skills.

 

I would suggest requiring them to watch film of the games they have officiated with others to evaluate the calls they made. Much like players watch game film to improve their skills. They should have to attend these sessions and have others "sign off" that they have completed this training session. And require "X" number of these each season. Guess this might also bring to mind, will they get paid for the time spent in this training?

Paging Clyde,,,,

Generally their training takes place in summer. Like players, they have camps that they go to where experts on officiating evaluate every whistle. They pay money to attend these instead of getting paid.

Is this summer training required of ALL officials who officiate at the varsity level? Or only those who are working toward officiating at the varsity level?

I would honestly like to know what type of training programs there are currently in place to help improve game officials. I am not starting this as a thread to bash officials. I honestly would like to know the current program of improving officials' skills.

 

I would suggest requiring them to watch film of the games they have officiated with others to evaluate the calls they made. Much like players watch game film to improve their skills. They should have to attend these sessions and have others "sign off" that they have completed this training session. And require "X" number of these each season. Guess this might also bring to mind, will they get paid for the time spent in this training?

 

Mojo, I've long been an advocate of doing exactly what I did when I played high school football - review the game film to see what I did right and what I did wrong. It doesn't happen. Some officials will get game tapes from schools and review on their own. It needs to be part of the training. Problem is once the season starts, unlike football, it's really hard to get officials together. Games every night of the week.

Is this summer training required of ALL officials who officiate at the varsity level? Or only those who are working toward officiating at the varsity level?

 

Not necessarily required. Some officials will go to camps to a)improve and/or b)be seen by college assignors.

If officials want to get better, they go to these camps. In the 8th region, some games have evaluators there to give them feedback. Often the varsity officials will coach the JV officials especially on a controversial call. Over 90% of officials work at what they do to get it right. They are human and it is an extremely difficult task.

Clyde, for some reason my response didn't seem to post. So the question is, then

What is required to become a high school varisty level official?

And what is required to maintain the "license" or "status" to continue being a high school varisty level official each year.

Or maybe this is somewhere on the KHSAA web site. I have to admit I have not gone to the KHSAA web site to see if there are guidelines there.

On Point, I understand and agree, it is a difficult job. And the official is working in a very fast paced environment with split seconds to make a decision. Just wondering about the training. I have seen the evaluators at some games. Really more last season than this season though.

Clyde, for some reason my response didn't seem to post. So the question is, then

What is required to become a high school varisty level official?

And what is required to maintain the "license" or "status" to continue being a high school varisty level official each year.

Or maybe this is somewhere on the KHSAA web site. I have to admit I have not gone to the KHSAA web site to see if there are guidelines there.

 

All officials are required to register with the KHSAA and take the state test each year. There are 3 levels an official can obtain based on experience and test scores. A level 2 or 3 official must make at least an 80 to be eligible for post season. Coaches ratings are also factored into this equation to determine post season eligibility. All regions require their officials to attend at least 4 meetings. Some of these meetings are scheduled prior to the start of the season and others during the season. During these meetings game tapes are reviewed, rules revisions are discussed, different scenarios and game situations are discussed, mechanics and court coverage are reviewed and other essential topics are discussed. I know that some regions pay outside evaluators (college clinicians and trainers) to evaluate officials and give post game feedback. This is common in the 8th region and others. Additionally, some regions require all officials to work a summer camp and do pre-season scrimmages. Whether an official moves up is determined by meeting the state requirements, coaches ratings, association expectations and demonstrating the ability to officiate at a higher level. Hope this helps.

Thanks Madman, very good information.

A few questions MOJO, #1: To watch film and effectively evaluate their officiating skills, every game must be filmed with multiple cameras. One camera at the top of the stands misses a lot of the fouls and violations. Who will be responsible for providing additional equipment and camera men to view each game?

 

#2 Currently, a shortage of officials exist, not just in basketball but most sports, if an official is deemed as unqualified or lacking in abilities this may lead to some games being officiated with 2 instead of 3 at the varsity level. Would this mean better officiating?

 

#3 This would require officials to commit more time to officiating and more work to assigners to ensure that these officials are watching their videos? Many officials are calling games 6 days a week doing both girls and boys freshman, jv, and varsity games. Many of which are traveling an hour or more to get to game sites. Will their game pay be raised for the increase in extra time they would have to commit?

 

Officials have a tough job and too many times they receive harsh criticism merely on the basis of fans/coaches/players/ guys on bluegrass preps unwillingness to accept their team lost. I have read and heard a lot of criticism of officials on web sites, at games, and in the papers. Not once have I read a post on this web site or any other praising them when they did a good job. I have never read an article praising them in any newspaper. I have never been to a game and heard a fan stand up and cheer for the officials when they make a good call or no call.

 

Bad calls happen and many times good calls are criticized as being bad because they go against someone's favorite team. I'd suggest players and coaches focusing on what they can do to improve the quality of their game or team rather slamming the officials.

Its always funny to hear from officials who I know on a personal level how coaches rate officials who aren't even officiating in a given year. Beauty contest.