[JRutledge]

I was a clinician at several camps this summer and some had some really good talent on the court was present in a few of these camps (meaning the players).

The biggest problem I see with officials that attend camps is that many officials are not realistic about what their ability is. One of the camps we had two fights in one day and when we tried to reconstruct the events with the officials, all we heard were excuses about the events. And to be fair it was not just in these games, but many games. One camp we put officials together based on experience level and tried to have one relatively long time veteran and a middle experience guy/gal and probably a newer or rookie official. We wanted to see if the veteran would step up and take charge and they often did not. When they did not and we asked them why they did not step up they would get mad or expect that their partners would be better or they would complain they did not recognize the situation or that we were being hard on them.

Well this is very frustrating when the point of camp is to get better and to get instruction you cannot possibly get during the season, but guys would not take advantage of it. Now this was not just me talking, one camp was run by a former NBA official (who just retired in the last year or so) and current NBA site evaluator and multiple college and State Final officials and assignors. In one camp there were more state final appearances than I can imagine at any camp in the state and we had guys that would be told things and their attitude was just terrible. And that camp was an evaluation camp where it was designed to identify up and coming officials and it was sad how many balked against the pressure.

I guess the point I am trying to make is I wish guys went to camps like those that work a lot of college camps do. Work hard, hustle and keep your mouth shut. Then if there is something you do not like, do not use it and move on. But when you keep trying to debate someone that has accomplished more than you have or has the ability to give you games in their conference, it is better to just take the medicine and try to learn from it. I never go to camps as a camper and feel I need to share my opinions unless asked and even then I am only going to ask for some clarification it is not to get into an argument or debate with the clinicians or supervisors.

It was just a frustrating summer from that point of view when you are often dealing with people that are spending their time and you are spending your money and any effort to help it is fallen on deaf ears. Oh well, I was making money most of it at camp, not spending it. I guess I should not really care, because those that had more of an interest in hiring those seemed to right those people off quickly.

Peace