Value of reffing camps

[Junker]

I really don't see how you could become a quality official without camps, especially if you are in a state where there are no classes required to become an official. As we all know, there is much more to this gig than what appears in the rulesbook, casebook, and illustrated manual. Personally, I'd reccomend working a season or two before going to camp. I think sometimes total newbies get a little overwhelmed at camps. I am in my 7th or 8th season (you'd think I'd remember which) and I still go to at least 2 camps a year. There is always something new to learn. It is also a great place to network. My main advice at a camp would be to adopt suggestions instantly. One of the best comments I recieved at an early camp is that when an evaluator mentioned something to me that should be changed, the next time they saw me, I had changed. Another big advantage is it keeps you sharp if you aren't working much in the spring, summer and fall. To sum it up, find a camp and go for sure.