ne thing the migrant official will have to do, and very quickly, is determine the relationship that exists in his new location between officials and coaches, and even between officials and other officials. Even when the transferring official tries to blend in well, some surprises will occur that will underscore how different (and how difficult) some people can be.

My second year in Tennessee had been, to date, the most successful year of officiating I had ever experienced. I had been promoted to Varsity basketball mid-year and in baseball worked the plate in a district championship.

Early the next season, I volunteered to cover a “during-school” middle school basketball game. Working middle school games accomplished two things for this financially challenged graduate student (me): (1) It put forty to sixty bucks in my pocket; and (2) it gave me the opportunity to mentor some first- and second-year officials, which I really enjoyed.

Continued...