Camps

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I have an opinion about staff and association camps that I best leave to myself.

I don't know if you're referring to a camp like the one I helped with, but we are a teaching and networking association only. We assign NO games. Our clinicians are mostly HS state tournament level officials and our only interest is making people better for a reasonable cost. $75 for 4 hours of classroom and 7 hours of on-court. Pizza dinner and lunch/drinks included.

In 7 hours, I got to work with 22 different officials and wrote up pages of notes that will be passed on. We also worked with those people during the games and reviewed with them at breaks, halftime, and postgame.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Rich

I don't know if you're referring to a camp like the one I helped with, but we are a teaching and networking association only. We assign NO games. Our clinicians are mostly HS state tournament level officials and our only interest is making people better for a reasonable cost. $75 for 4 hours of classroom and 7 hours of on-court. Pizza dinner and lunch/drinks included.

In 7 hours, I got to work with 22 different officials and wrote up pages of notes that will be passed on. We also worked with those people during the games and reviewed with them at breaks, halftime, and postgame.

Addressing the HS aspect only, in my local area nothing is done in those camps to help further anybody's career. Officials only work to fulfill commitments made by the assignor, who may or may not be getting paid to provide officials.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Addressing the HS aspect only, in my local area nothing is done in those camps to help further anybody's career. Officials only work to fulfill commitments made by the assignor, who may or may not be getting paid to provide officials.

I will personally be hiring at least a few of those officials for varsity games in the conference that I officially start assigning tomorrow (20 boys teams, 19 girls teams). For some, it will be their first varsity assignments.

Also, the entire area here is assigned by conference commissioners and ADs. Networking with other officials allows them to put together crews and approach those people for games. We typically assign crews to games, so people need to agree to work together and then approach the assignors that way.

If what I do makes them better officials, you don't think it helps advance their careers?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Rich

I will personally be hiring at least a few of those officials for varsity games in the conference that I officially start assigning tomorrow (20 boys teams, 19 girls teams). For some, it will be their first varsity assignments.

Also, the entire area here is assigned by conference commissioners and ADs. Networking with other officials allows them to put together crews and approach those people for games. We typically assign crews to games, so people need to agree to work together and then approach the assignors that way.

If what I do makes them better officials, you don't think it helps advance their careers?

In your case yes, but in my area officials are only filling slots. No one on the HS level of officiating is doing anything to help officials get better in my area. It's all strictly a money grab. The person who was stymying growth was voted out of office in 2010, and he simply started a new organization and within a year he had all the public school contracts. Though he has passed away, his organization is still run the same way. That's why I refuse to work for that organization.


On a separate note, how are pre-season scrimmages handled for your schools?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

In your case yes, but in my area officials are only filling slots.

How are pre-season scrimmages handled for your schools?

Schools hire the officials. Paid just like regular games.

One of my associations uses a preseason scrimmage (with 4-6 teams attending) as a clinic. Pretty laid back. We usually have 4 courts going and 25-30 or so officials rotate in and out. A couple clinicians per floor giving feedback.

The money tends to go to food/drink at a local establishment afterwards for those who attend. Not a money maker at all.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Rich

Schools hire the officials. Paid just like regular games.

One of my associations uses a preseason scrimmage (with 4-6 teams attending) as a clinic. Pretty laid back. We usually have 4 courts going and 25-30 or so officials rotate in and out. A couple clinicians per floor giving feedback.

The money tends to go to food/drink at a local establishment afterwards for those who attend. Not a money maker at all.

Here, the contracts call for the association to provide officials for 2 scrimmages at each school with no compensation. Then you have some schools who will switch up the format once the officials are in place in order to get extra quarters out of the officials.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Here, the contracts call for the association to provide officials for 2 scrimmages at each school with no compensation. Then you have some schools who will switch up the format once the officials are in place in order to get extra quarters out of the officials.

That's miserable.

I worked a scrimmage like this when I lived in Tennessee. I had a coach act like it was the state playoffs and acted so badly I would've probably whacked and then ejected him. Finally I told him that either he knocks it off or I leave.

He told me to go ahead and try it. I put the ball on the table and went to the house.

My partner stayed and worked solo to try to kiss ass.

I wasn't the one who got reamed out by the supervisor, either, BTW. Good times, good times. About 20 years ago now.

[JMUplayer]

You want a money grab.... hey bad news how you liking the VHSL madating that everyone get new shirts.... *shakes head*