First camp advice
 

Attending my first officials camp this week. We are combining 2 and 3 man crews. We have our school assignors and various other college officials and assignors making on and off court critique.

So, after night one, my question is what do I do when one (or more)of us is out of position, I mean WAY out of position while we are in transition..? There isn't enough time to wave him/her back or we'll miss the call.

If I am the one who is in position (and I wasn't always) I am planning to hold my spot and make the calls I see and not worry about my partner(s). Generally, the observers will get us back in position, but I'm not sure how to properly handle the numerous times that we are all out of position (we haven't been trained in 3 man and we are going on limited experience- there are only a few groups using exclusively 3 man which I think is a good sign for those of us put into the 3 man groups).

Anyway, if I am sure that I'm in the right spot (and even if I'm wrong) I think I should stay put and make my call and go from there. Right, wrong or it depends?

Second, what are the observers and assignors looking for from those of us in first year at our first camp and what should I concentrate on the rest of the week? My plan was to concentrate on mechanics and making calls and being as strong as I can with calls.

Thanks for your thoughts-

Z

listening and implementing what you've heard

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, if at all & dont get mad if they say something you dont agree with. Good luck!!!!

Sound to me, and please correct me if I am wrong, that when the crew is "WAY out of position in transition" that someone failed to pick up the rotation. Hey...it happens, even in experienced crews. Possibly the C picked up the Lead coming over but had a good view and stayed put to officiate the play...thus when things head the other way it looks like he/she is out of position. When either of these happen and I am the new Trail I watch the other two officials in my peripheral vision. If they correct things I just keep going. If they do not correct, I fill in as needed to get the crew back into position.

The big confusion comes when it is the T that misses the rotation of the L...because you usually end up with both busting to get to Lead. In that case, let the two of them settle and slide into the appropriate spot. It doesn't look smooth and in camp you will get "dinged" by evaluators...in real games the probability is real high that only 3 people in the entire gym will know something got messed up. :)

Don't say, "Ya but...."
Just say, "Okay."

^^^^^

Very good advice there. If a clinician asked you why you called something, tell them and if they tell you that you blew the call, say ok and move on. Don't fight what they're telling you.

As far as being out of position, try and remember your partners' first names and be vocal on the court. If you have two Leads in transition , you can yell something like "bob, you're in the C!!!". It's ok to communicate on the court. I've never heard a clinician say not to do it and most I've encountered will encourage it. If you have some people w/ little 3 person experience there will probably be some goofs in late rotations and transition. Someone isn't going to realize they're the new Lead and they'll have an "oh s***" moment when they realize they've gotta bust it up the court.

Be a strong "C" official. Follow plays to the basket out of your primary, if you have a double whistle, come strong and take it.

Hustle, concentrate and as a clinician at a camp told our group, "you have TWO ears and ONE mouth for a reason". Good luck!!

I would also suggest that you also look interested. Just like anything with body language, when you look disinterested, the clinicians soon become disinterested with you. It is very frustrating when people spend their money to learn and do not seem receptive with the information.

Look all most clinicians are trying to do is help you. You do not have to like or accept all information. But it looks better if you try to take the information and use some of it. You can always leave the camp and throw away most of the information. Not everything someone teaches to you is solid information that everyone can always use.

Peace

That was the very first thing the directors told us on Day One....

I did have a situation that I think I handled the right way, though:

3 man crew, I am C-> rebound to defense and we start transition back when new T makes a foul call in backcourt nearly on the end line, no change of possession, still going the distance. I came back into the backcourt a few steps to watch players while T reports and so he can come back and administer throw in (no long switches for us in Jersey).

Observer directly behind me tells me to go get the ball so the kids don't pick it up and take off with it- return to T and resume my position, it looks cleaner and helps with the uncertainty of the crew's limited experience in 3 man. OK,makes sense to me.

Same game, same thing happens later. I go to get the ball and at next dead ball 2nd observer comes to me and says I don't have to go get it, just come back into backcourt to make sure there are no problems.

I didn't "yeabut" him. I said "the reason I did that is because last game I was told to go get it and it helps keep the transition smooth b/c we are a little inexperienced at 3 man". 2nd observer says, "OK, that's fine- if the crew were more experienced T would know that he's reporting and returning to administer and you would know that he knows, so you just make sure the kids don't kill each other while T reports". I told him I would check with our assignor as to how our local board wants it done (both observers were D1 officials) 2d observers says "that's exactly what I'd do too".

Tonight, its back to 2 man and we're told that the observers will be watching calls closely and wanting to question why we made or didn't make calls.

And I am amazed at what I have heard from other officials saying back to the observers- and amongst each other. I'm limiting myself to "OK" and "thanks".

Z

Camp season is so much fun, isnt it???? LOL....

First, you're probably thinking too much. They'll tell you what they want you to do. They'll tell you where your opportunities and strengths lie. Just be a sponge.

Second, rotations and transistions. From time to time, someone will miss a transistion. I miss them and I've worked three man since 1989. Don't sweat it.

If you're L and you rotate just as the ball turns over, just look to see where you partners go and fill the gap.

If you're L and you rotate and the new T misses the rotation, you'll have two C's and one T at the other end. You're now T, go to the C on your side and push him to L.

If you transistion and end up with two L's, you'll just have to yell until you get the guy's attention who should be a C.

It's just part of the game.

That's probably a good answer. But here's my thing. Don't worry about the ball. Concentrate on the players and forget the ball. Someone will get the ball. We can't play without it.

This is also my opinion. But I have been told at camp -- in very strong terms -- by D1 observers that retrieving the ball helps your partner, keeps the game moving, and looks a lot better than having the ball sitting in the middle of the floor.

So my compromise is that in a 2-whistle game, I ignore the ball and freeze my eyes on the players. In a 3-whistle game, if I'm the closest non-calling official, I'll get the ball (and hope that my other partner is watching the players).

Even though the 2nd observer understood where you were coming from, your explanation could've been taken as "yeah but". So be careful! I'm learning that you will be told different philosophies about the same situations by different observers. The last thing they want to hear is "last game so & so said this". At some D1 camps I've seen guys removed & replaced for that very comment. Sometimes they say different things to see how well you adjust & if you're coachable. I would stay away from explanations or reasons why after being told something for the remainder of this camp.

Maybe the second observer meant that you didn't have to actually go get the ball. When I'm C in transition & the new T has a BC foul to report I generally have the closest kid toss me the ball (smile & say thank you) then toss it back to the T after they conclude business.
Remember to move with a purpose.

JMO, do with it what you choose. Most of all have fun & enjoy the experience!

Notice how tactfully I did NOT throw observer #1 under the bus!!! It would have been easy to point across court and say "Yeah, but HE told me to do X.."

It also looks a lot better than having the kid inbound the ball & start heading up the court as the official is reporting the foul. Then we have to blow them back & start again. That looks real ugly...

Anything beyond "Ok" or "I see" or "Yes sir/ma'am" is usually too much.

I had a situation in my last camp where an observer didn't like a call I made. At first I thought he wanted an explanation but then looking in his eyes I realized that he didn't so I cut off my sentence about 3-4 words into it and just said "OK" and nodded. Another observer pulled me to the side afterwards and reminded me about keeping your mouth shut when an observer is talking.

Best advice, IMO, is to not offer information unless you have been asked a specific, non-rhetorical, question.

Sounds like you handled that sitch pretty well, but understand the notion of...

The *Lazy C* :

• Doesn't leave front court on the *dead run* unless there's a fast break.
• Hangs around the division line to assist Trail with division line and backcourt players.
  • Loose defense in backcourt
• After a score, hangs around Free-throw line extended to determine if Trail will need assistance.
  • Ball coming up on C-side
  • 4-5 players in backcourt light pressure
  • Pressure defense

Point being, you may have been a bit too far down court.
*Lazy C* should be very aware of the ball, of is partner on ball and of being there to help when needed. two eyes in the back court and two eyes in the front court and you've got 'er.

Just remember the line: "I understand."

It is not uncommon to hear conflicting viewpoints at camps. Listen...... and then do what a specific observer asks of you in that game. If in the next game you are asked to do something different, do so. A lot of times, guys will be testing you to see if you can adjust your game accordingly.

The descrepancies are usually minor items that are simply personal preference anyhow such as getting the ball while the trail reports a foul.

The main focus of camp for you should be learning 3 man-mechanics.

I still would not tell the observer what another observer or what you heard at another camp. As someone said, it still sounds like a "yeahbut" type of interaction. All I would do is ask for clarification and reasoning. I would not tell them what someone else told me because it is possible they do not care what the other person said to you. What and observer is telling you what they think is best and what works for them and others. That does not mean everything they tell you will work for you. Listen and say "OK" and move on. Or soon you will get the reputation as knowing everything and those that would help, just leave you be.

Peace

Thanks for the advice- I'll go with the "OKs" and "thanks" the rest of camp.

When might it be appropriate to ask any of the observers or directors for further explanation or to discuss a particular play in more detail? Obviously, its not during the game or while they are involved in another game- after the games perhaps?

Or should I not push the envelope without a specific invitation? It sounds like an obvious question, but if the observers don't want the campers to get too deep into what they advise, then I don't want to seem ungrateful or that I'm arguing with them. I/we don't know the answer, or I/we don't know why I/we should have passed on that call, that's why it's my/our first year and first camp. Ask or figure it out for myself?

This situation reminds me of a funny issue I encountered at camp several years ago....

I'm lead and Observer1, on one end of the court, is telling me I need to move to spot X. After a trip or two and a foul or two leaving me lead on the other end of the court, Observer2 is telling me I need to move to spot Y. It happens that spot X and spot Y are very different directions from each other relative to where I had been positioning myself. Each trip to the opposite end of the court, I keep getting "corrected" on my position since I couldn't figure out where I should be with conflicting info.

We got to the end of the half or a timeout and the observer I was closest to was starting to talk about the position again. I responded that I would be happy to do as he asked but that the guy on the other end of the court was telling me to move the exact opposition direction and I was having a hard time figuring out how to do both.

He had a good laugh when he realized what was going on and the dilemma I was in with to sets of conflicting instructions.

Aside from a case like that, I agree...not much response is advisable.

:)
Closing down vs. going wide?

At the last camp I attended I worked with an official who was new to 3-official mechanics. I don't rememeber the specific point, but apparently during our post-game session with the evaluator he received input that conflicted with something said previously. I thought his response was great and I have put it in "my toolbox".

He said "Excuse me but I am confused and since there is a very high probability my confusion is my fault can I ask some questions?" His first question started with "Earlier in the camp I understood the clinician to say I should..." and ended with his restatement of what the evaluator just said and asked for some assistance in reconciling the advice. I thought that was a great approach in bringing up conflicting advice without being a "Yea but" camper.

Exactly! Was a really fun experiment to try to split my body in half and cover the same play from two angles.

Did you work a game with me? This is more or less what I do and did just a few weeks ago at a camp at Central Washington when I received apparently conflicting information. The evaluator was happy to expand on his comment (the two statements were not actually conflicting...just one was misunderstood) and I ended with "Thanks, I've got it now".