[JRutledge]

I had a discussion with a very well respected official at the D1 level in Men's Basketball. He asked me what camps I was attending this summer. I expressed that to him I want to attend a D1 Men's camp maybe next summer. Well when I said that I was really asking what he thought about my chances or just what he thought about me attending such a high level camp. This was exactly what he told me.

"You are not ready."

I already know this so that did not suprise me or upset me. Then he went on to say,

"Camps like that are not places to learn, they are places to get hired."

Then he made comments about what decisions the make about officials.

1. The judge you one your game management
2. They judge you one the way you deal with players and coaches.

"Officiating at those camps is not about blowing the whistle, it is about all the other stuff you do. They observer EVERYTHING you do and judge you on that basis, not what you just call."

His last comment to me was, "you have to see the anticipate the play, watch the play develop, then make a call. And most of all, you cannot guess."

Interesting conversation and I am sure I will have more with him. But I want to move up to at least D1 at some point, this is no different than anything I have heard before.

Peace