Camp Reviews/Info? Sticky?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Yep. And a lot of Ridenhour guys who want to work for Fishman probably won’t out of fear of losing SAC games.

I worked for Fishman and Ridenhour at one point. Without detailing why I got out of college ball (there are lots of reasons), Barry's not one to hire guys who think they're too good to go to his camp at least once, no matter what level they work...

Or officials who already have to attend D1/D2/D3 staff camps don't want to pay $225 (plus $300-400 in hotel costs) so that Barry Fishman can ensure his games are covered (his brochure's own words)

And at what point is an on-staff official good enough not to have to attend a JuCo camp to be retained? Jamie Luckie? Doug Sirmons? AJ Desai? Big South tournament official? D2/D3 Final Four official? There has to be a balance of bringing in fresh faces while retaining some veteran continuity. He's going to have problems covering games in VA. NC officials are not going to like having to travel to Norfolk or Petersburg in the middle of the week on a regular basis.

This is not a criticism of Barry Fishman specifically, but of the entire college camp landscape. The college camp system is more about getting bodies to cover games (for which the supervisor is getting paid by the tournament director) than it is about seeing officials so supervisors know whether or not you are going to hire them. Campers are paying to "cover games". Campers should never pay more than $50-100/camp, strictly to cover administrative costs. All fees charged above that amount are what make the college camp system a racket.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Or officials who already have to attend D1/D2/D3 staff camps don't want to pay $225 (plus $300-400 in hotel costs) so that Barry Fishman can ensure his games are covered (his brochure's own words)

And at what point is an on-staff official good enough not to have to attend a JuCo camp to be retained? Jamie Luckie? Doug Sirmons? AJ Desai? Big South tournament official? D2/D3 Final Four official? There has to be a balance of bringing in fresh faces while retaining some veteran continuity. He's going to have problems covering games in VA. NC officials are not going to like having to travel to Norfolk or Petersburg in the middle of the week on a regular basis.

This is not a criticism of Barry Fishman specifically, but of the entire college camp landscape. The college camp system is more about getting bodies to cover games (for which the supervisor is getting paid by the tournament director) than it is about seeing officials so supervisors know whether or not you are going to hire them. Campers are paying to "cover games". Campers should never pay more than $50-100/camp, strictly to cover administrative costs. All fees charged above that amount are what make the college camp system a racket.

Yep.

In this racket, everyone wants a piece of the pie, including JUCO supervisors who pretend like they assign D1 ball. I know the guy who assigns the Georgia NJCAA schools is the same way.

College tryout camps are a money-making endeavor primarily, a means of finding new officials secondarily (or lower). That’s the reality you accept if you want to work college ball.

[ILRef80]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Or officials who already have to attend D1/D2/D3 staff camps don't want to pay $225 (plus $300-400 in hotel costs) so that Barry Fishman can ensure his games are covered (his brochure's own words)

And at what point is an on-staff official good enough not to have to attend a JuCo camp to be retained? Jamie Luckie? Doug Sirmons? AJ Desai? Big South tournament official? D2/D3 Final Four official? There has to be a balance of bringing in fresh faces while retaining some veteran continuity. He's going to have problems covering games in VA. NC officials are not going to like having to travel to Norfolk or Petersburg in the middle of the week on a regular basis.

This is not a criticism of Barry Fishman specifically, but of the entire college camp landscape. The college camp system is more about getting bodies to cover games (for which the supervisor is getting paid by the tournament director) than it is about seeing officials so supervisors know whether or not you are going to hire them. Campers are paying to "cover games". Campers should never pay more than $50-100/camp, strictly to cover administrative costs. All fees charged above that amount are what make the college camp system a racket.

Well said. The disappointing thing is that the assignors are (usually) officials, too. They're making tons of money on the backs of their peers. It's greed.