Just one word...Wow!
What a great experience. Thank you, everyone, for your great advice. It all helped, a lot. I nodded a lot, and listened a lot...and learned a lot!
Thanks, Jeff, for the reminder to hustle. Good hustle definitely got me noticed. And I overheard the evaluators commenting on others who did not hustle.
Wizard, I don't know if your camp will be the same, but here's what happened. On the first day, we met together and listened to a few speakers. They focused mostly on the stuff you need to know to be a good official. Very worthwhile stuff, especially with me being a newbie and all.
Then they broke us into groups that worked together for the rest of the camp. The camp was spread over several sites, and so we travelled from site to site to be seen by each evaluator. At half time and after each game, an evaluator would take us aside and discuss what they saw that was good, and things to work on. We got a written copy of the eval. It was all handled very well, and very positively. I came away from each one feeling good and excited to try what they suggested.
One big benefit of the groups is that we got to know each other, and I was able to talk to the veterans (which was everybody in the group except me
) when I wasn't working. They had a lot of good stuff for me as well.
One thing that helped is that when we all introduced ourselves, I clearly stated that I was brand new to officiating. I have worked six months, actually, but close enough. I found that everybody was very helpful, and I was generally perceived as being more proficient than they expected.
One thing I wish I had paid a more attention to was hydration. It's summer and most of the gyms I worked were very hot. I fatigued my first day because I didn't have enough water and gatorade. I fixed that the second day, and the results were much better.
One thing that was hard for me was being aware of being evaluated. The first day especially, I was constantly reminding myself to "work my game" and ignore the evaluators. One of the veterans suggested that I let the stress drive me to do my best, but not to focus on it. Good advice.
I got to meet our friend, stripes. When I originally met him online, I met him under his real name. So I spent the whole time looking for two different people, before he helped me figure it out.
I'm pleased to report that I evaluated very well. Almost universally the evaluators were shocked when they found out I was a rookie. Considering all of the banter here, I had to try not to smile when several of them told me I had good "presence."
Many of the things I learned here were noticed.
I was able to incorporate some changes recommended by my first evaluator, before I was seen by my last evaluator. I think I've made a good first impression. And I've got a list of things to work on before the next camp in June.
Thank you again, everyone!