I started officiating as a freshman in college and only kept my certification for 3 years. Partly due to the fact I started coaching as well, but mainly for the fact that it felt almost impossible to get into the "inner circle". If you didn't know the right person or kiss the right ass you weren't ever going to be more than someone helping to support the association and work kid's tournaments. I know and like several officials from around the state and don't believe any of them to be flawless. That being said I do believe the quality of officiating has deteriorated due to the "good ole boy" system. The officials association has almost become an untouchable entity. I'm tired of watching them walk around puffy chested as if they can't be touched and instantly dinging a coach for any kind of questioning that takes place. In my opinion a fairly decent sized number of them are either to lazy to care or unaware of how to get in the right position to make a lot of calls. I know it's a hard job and calls will be missed, I've been there and done that. I just feel like some of the guys who've been around forever may be a little lax in their ways these days and the young ones are soooo green they shouldn't even be on a JV mat.