Camp or no Camp

[zebraman]

In our area, camps are very much encouraged. In fact, you cannot work a state tournament in Washington State unless you have attended a 3-person camp in the past 3 years.

I have a good friend who has officiated for almost 30 years. When he first started, there were no officials camps. Then there was one ref camp that started in California that a few people from up this way attended. Then the camps gradually made their way up here. He said that the officiating has evolved and improved immensely since the camps came into existence.

I have seen officials who have been stagnant for years, suddenly "break through" after going to a camp and working on their game in a single off-season. I cannot think of a single official rated in the top 20 of our association that has not been to several camps.