Re: Referees
Most HS referees ref a lot more games than that. Of course, that includes junior high and JV games. HS games in Texas are usually a freshman, JV, and varsity game. Unless it's a really big game, then you usually call 2 of them (e.g. freshman and varsity). It's been 7-8 years since I called games, but I would have to leave work early (go in early, too), drive anywhere from 20-100+ miles to get to the freshman game by 5:00. By the time the varsity game ended, it was 9:30-10:00 before I started the drive home. That means I could leave work at 4:00 and get home at midnight. I might make $100 plus mileage. It was crazy but I loved it, and called games with doctors, lawyers, oil company VP's, etc. They mostly did it for the love of the game. Guys with a 9-5 job couldn't call NCAA games because they couldn't take off work. They tended to have their own businesses although I knew a few (very few) who made officiating their full-time job (called football, basketball, baseball, etc. …. going from season to season).
I was a trainer for new referees in the chapter I was most involved in (Rice Belt chapter out in Katy). I usually called 100-125 JH/HS games a year plus youth leagues, adult leagues, and AAU, and probably called 3 nights a week on the average. I had to learn to say "no" or I would be calling every night of the week. I also had a full-time job, a wife, and 3 kids so I really couldn't devote more time to it.
I still run into guys (and ladies) who I called with, coaches, and even players who I refereed. It was a lot of fun but it was also hard work. My toughest day was a Saturday AAU tournament where I called 12 games in a day in Houston with no AC in the gym. I got to the point where I couldn't sweat anymore.
