Instruction Camps

[NuBlue]

I am also starting my first year in 2013/14. The impression that I have gotten, and, I may very well be wrong, is that camps want you to have at least some experience. I have been working hard on my fitness, and studying both rules and mechanics, but I have no game experience in basketball. I have been working both baseball and football the last few years, but, basketball is new.
Is it pre- mature to seek out a camp experience?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by NuBlue

I am also starting my first year in 2013/14. The impression that I have gotten, and, I may very well be wrong, is that camps want you to have at least some experience. I have been working hard on my fitness, and studying both rules and mechanics, but I have no game experience in basketball. I have been working both baseball and football the last few years, but, basketball is new.
Is it pre- mature to seek out a camp experience?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

If you don't have any experience, don't worry. Just be up front about it with the camp and your clinicians. They'll be gentle with you.

And no, it's not too early. You're experienced in other sports so you know already that the only way to learn is to get out there and do it.

Just remember not to wear your football shirt on the court (yep, I remember a guy doing this at a basketball camp years ago). Those wide stripes and pockets are dead giveaways

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by NuBlue

The impression that I have gotten, and, I may very well be wrong, is that camps want you to have at least some experience. . . Is it pre- mature to seek out a camp experience?

Depends on what kind of "camp" you're attending. Some are purely instructional, with separate clinicians dedicated to various levels of experience. They might have newbies learning how to blow Fox 40's in the mirror room while vets are doing 3-man over on the courts. Others are meat market exposure "camps" organized for assigners to cull the herd for prospects for his upcoming NCAA officiating pool. Others are a blend. A veteran hoping to step up might be disappointed with the former; a rookie might get very little out of the latter.

Best to ask around to identify what kind of camp you're attending and make sure you're in one that offers what you hope to get out of it.

Give a general location of the camp you're registered for and perhaps a member of the forum has experience with that particular camp and can advise you precisely.

Hope it goes well for you!

BTW - Studying and being in shape prior is a key to getting the most out of any camp you might attend.

[Rich]

All this said, I personally avoid any camp where there's one group of campers and there's no minimum experience level in place. Why? Because I want to go to camp to work on my game, not be paired with one or two newbies who I need to worry about every trip down the floor.

One camp I went to -- they took the six most experienced officials and made them group "leaders" -- I ended up playing surrogate clinician all weekend. I love being a clinician (and I've been one for the camp I just mentioned), but when I pay my money to work on my game, I'd like the opportunity to do just that.

That said, it bothers me less when I pay $50 - $100 than if it would happen when I pay $300+ for the weekend. I can always learn something in any environment.