My "After School" Job in the Fall

I am currently a Connecticut Valley Soccer Officials Association (CVSOA) member. This is my first year refereeing Junior Varsity boys and girls soccer matches. During my first year, I am expected to become competent with the National Federation of State High School Association rules and expectations. I am not allowed to referee a varsity match until I have been evaluated which will take place at the beginning of next season. I have played varsity soccer four years at Smith Academy High School, located in Hatfield, MA. It was pretty easy for me to become familiar with all of the specific rules and regulations that I have to uphold during each match. Now, with much experience so far this season, refereeing 15 matches so far, I feel very confident with my understanding and ruling. Most matches take place after school at 4 pm, so it is a perfect seasonal job that I enjoy doing because it is some extra spending money and good exercise running up and down the field!

You can find this picture at: www.tujsc.netspeed.com.au/Referees/Index.html

I am also currently taking classes for officiating high school girls and boys basketball games. Every Wednesday night at Dean Technical High School, I attend classes held by the IAABO #31, for learning the rules of officiating basketball games. I also played varsity basketball all four years at Smith Academy as well, so I have a pretty good general understanding of the rules. I have found that officiating basketball is going to be much more difficult than soccer, because of the many specific and diverse rules relating to possession of live ball and dead ball, as well as player and team possessions. I am looking forward to starting the games this winter and carrying over my seasonal job from the fall.

Officiating soccer and basketball for the next few years will be good experience for me at the high school level, because when I finish my masters degree here at Springfield, I will be looking for a coaching position at the junior varsity or varsity level in basketball!