At summer meetings one suggestion that kept coming back was that if you take a blank video cassette with you to a game with a stamped envelope, and if the game is being taped, it was proper to ask the AD if you could get a copy for yourself to study.

Most people said to check with your organization's leaders first.

Does anyone do this?

Thanks,
DD.

I don't because the games I work usually aren't. But I do take a kid and a camera with me at least a few times a year and get a tape. I have found taping to be the most helpful thing I can do to get better faster. It's worth paying the next door neighbor kid $5 and a hamburger to see myself, and how i look to others. I strongly recommend it.

Video YES
 

In football I do this all the time.. It is a great tool for officials. I have even started to transfer tape to DVD and take video clips to study. Here is an example.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res0kkni/footballvideo/

Video is a great tool for football and I think it would be great for all sports.

David

Some people bring their VCR and just hook it up to the camera that will be taping the game. The camera guy is usually some student who works for the team. Simply ask him to press record before the game starts. This method is great because 1. you get your tape that night 2. you don't have to deal with coaches or bothering other staff members about getting a copy and making sure they dub it and mail it to you. If you can't do this then try to get with someone who works for the team, preferably a student worker or someone besides the head coach and give them a blank tape with your name and address as you suggested. Obviously try to handle this before the game starts as it can be tough after the game. Whatever your method, definitely try hard to get game tapes so you see what your plays look like and what you look like and can correct your mistakes.

Last year one of the local schools here simply gave the officials a game tape, without any asking, before they left the building.
Of course, this coach has moved to another school in the district, so we may have zero, one, or two schools which do this next year.

I have. I have mainly asked of schools that I had some kind of relationship with. They send the tape in the mail, I have never provided a tape.

Peace

I have asked many different schools for tapes. They have been very accomdating. Most times they will make the tape without me providing one. It never has been a very big deal for me.

Are you guys talking about high schools? Now that I'll be doing some varsity, can I expect this to work for me? Camron, how does it work here in Portland?

I am talking hs varsity and college games. Ask the question and be nice is all I have done, oh...don't ask the loser.

...which translates to ask before the game? I'll keep that advice well in mind!!

I don't know that it means to ask before the game, I've always asked after.

I've never asked. I've though about it many times and think it is a good idea.