Camp Clinician/Observer Question

[Freddy]

Most significant thing to verify is that officials are turning "off-ball." BALL WATCHING is the #1 thing officials at camps need to learn not to do and is also one of the most neglected things that clinicians don't look for that they should.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Most significant thing to verify is that officials are turning "off-ball." BALL WATCHING is the #1 thing officials at camps need to learn not to do and is also one of the most neglected things that clinicians don't look for that they should.

Absolutely. Telltale signs of ball watching are eyes on the ball instead of where they belong, body language toward the ball instead of where their body should be pointing, and lots and lots of avoidable double whistles.

[bucky]

All have given good responses

I recall 2 similar items that stick out from my dozens of camps over the years: clinicians who will not admit to being wrong and clinicians, when they do not know, refuse to admit that they do not know.

Sure, most know the rules and give good, solid answers. But when asked about a rule (and they do not know), I would love it, just once, for a clinician to say "I do not know." Furthermore, it would be great if they would investigate and come back to you (camper) with the correct answer.

It always cracked me up (on the inside of course) when asking two or more clinicians simultaneously about the same rule and they quizzically look at each other. Then one spouts off some vague response and the others piggyback on it. lol. Just admit when you do not know, sheesh.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bucky

... clinicians who will not admit to being wrong ...

Several years ago I served on our local board's floor training (mechanics) committee. The chairman of the committee, one of our best officials (many state tournament appearances), was going over free throw responsibilities with the rookies who had just passed the written rules exam. After going over the responsibilities of the lead and the trail he was asked a question about rebounders on the lane putting their arms outside the planes of their lane space. He replied that the rebounders in the marked lane spaces couldn't put their arms over the plane of the lane line, or the plane of the lane marks. I asked him if he was sure, that the rule was that the rebounder's feet can't break these three planes and that the arms are good to go for everything short of contact. He replied that he would double check it and get back to everybody. We're still waiting.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bucky

All have given good responses

I recall 2 similar items that stick out from my dozens of camps over the years: clinicians who will not admit to being wrong and clinicians, when they do not know, refuse to admit that they do not know.

Sure, most know the rules and give good, solid answers. But when asked about a rule (and they do not know), I would love it, just once, for a clinician to say "I do not know." Furthermore, it would be great if they would investigate and come back to you (camper) with the correct answer.

It always cracked me up (on the inside of course) when asking two or more clinicians simultaneously about the same rule and they quizzically look at each other. Then one spouts off some vague response and the others piggyback on it. lol. Just admit when you do not know, sheesh.

What kind of camps are you attending? I say that because having been to many camps over the year at the NCAA level where almost all the time we are using high school rules, I cannot recall many times if ever where there was a deep conversation over a rule. We might have an honest confusion on a mechanic or even a procedure of that mechanic, but not a rule in the game. Even when there has been a debate, we usually ask about the difference in we move on. But almost all camps I have been to the focus is on our calls, coverage, and teamwork, not a rule in a game.

Peace

[bucky]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

What kind of camps are you attending? I say that because having been to many camps over the year at the NCAA level where almost all the time we are using high school rules, I cannot recall many times if ever where there was a deep conversation over a rule. We might have an honest confusion on a mechanic or even a procedure of that mechanic, but not a rule in the game. Even when there has been a debate, we usually ask about the difference in we move on. But almost all camps I have been to the focus is on our calls, coverage, and teamwork, not a rule in a game.

Peace

HS camps seem to always be great as far as how clinicians act. They genuinely want to help, carry zero ego, etc. NCAA camps, to which I was mostly referring, are not that way. Sure, there will be a few really good clinicians who strive to help in any way possible. For the most part however, they are there putting their time in for their assignors, at times getting paid, projecting their egos, etc. lol. Then we get to watch them make mistakes on TV. Can't they just act like the regular people that they are? I digress. I recall vividly a blarge. One clinician had the rule incorrect, one had it correct, and a third kept instructing that he would override the non-primary official resulting in no double foul. Later, I actually witnessed this now-D1 official perform this action/call/procedure in an actual game. Pfft.