For those that went (I did not):

What did you learn?
What did you like?
What did you dislike?
Are you going back next year?
How much money did you lose?

LOL!

Are you referring to the Coast-to-Coast and Bill White's camp that use the officials for the Addidas 64 tournament in Las Vegas (96-115° heat in the shade)? My assumption is this camp charged around $200 per person and it did not include your transportation, food, shelter or gambling losses. I'd rather get paid something as a basketball official doing high caliber games.

I went to Coast to Coast this year and it was well worth it for me. I think the best part for me was not only being exposed to the NBA officials and some of their philosophies, but also in watching and working with my fellow campers, who I learned from as well. Probably the two most useful things I learned were how to better break down my game tape as well as the inportance of demeanor on the court.

Technically, I think I like the NBA's rotations better than what I've been accustomed to. I think getting the lead in line with the ball constantly improves coverage. Also, they were big on having a high slot with high post play and for the trail coming well off the sideline. I like pretty much all the mechanics (except L picking up ball in corner below FT extended), a lot of which are in line with what I hear some college conferences are going to, and basically my only dislike is that we didn't get the whistle we were promised.

All in all, I'd like to go back next year, it was a great experience and I think it improved me as an official more so than any of the other camps I've attended this summer. And I ended up winning enough at the tables to cover my camp, so I'd recommend it.

Did you play craps with Mr. Rush's sona nd the other NBA guys? I know when I went that was the game of choice at the Hard Rock.

Are you the Ref with blonde curly hair and a crooked nose who was banned from the Vegas casinos for life?

Who were the officials from the NBA at the Coast to Coast camp?

Thanks.

Ron Garretson
Joe Crawford
Derrick Stafford
Greg Willard
Dave Jones
Bill Kennedy
Scott Wall
Bill Spooner
Rodney Mott
Eric Lewis
Mark Ayotte
Tommy Nunez Jr

Learned?

I have attended previous camps in which NBA refs were clinicians, so not much "new" was learned, however I can say that there is plenty that is taught that is not specific to high school or NCAA mechanics. The philosophy that is taught is getting to the right spot with the right angle to get the play right!

Likes?

You only work 1 game a day! Great if you didn't go to sleep the previous night.

Dislikes?

You only work 1 game a day. Not good if you didn't do well.

Will I return?

Definately (and I actually made money)

By thye way, Ronnie Nunn popped in on the last day and not only observed the games, he also spoke and took questions from the class.

I've attended the C2C camp the past two years and I haven't been to a better camp!

Despite the differences in philosophies from NCAA and/or NFHS, the best advice I got out of those gentlemen pertained to game and clock management. I don't feel that these two topics get covered very well at other camps because they focus too much on mechanics and other basic material that officials reffing at a high caliber should already be solid at.

Unfortunately, I don't have a dream to work in the League, so to spend the $$$ to go down to Vegas every year doesn't add up.

I'm glad to hear that others who went this year had a good time!