"Getting The Call Right" night after night at any level, demands that the referee continuously improve his/her skills on the court. Improving skill generally involves many things: a desire to improve, an effort to improve, and realistic feedback about performance, are just a few of the ingredients needed. As stated previously in this blog, seeking out experiences that offer excellent opportunities to improve are imperative.
The D-III Super Camp run by Wayne Samford, Gregg Bennett, and Dennis Ashcraft at the University of Richmond is an experience that offers the participant an excellent opportunity for growth as a basketball official. The camp's stated mission: "To promote basketball officiating excellence on all levels of competition by providing quality instruction and preserving the integrity of the game," is accomplished through a variety of experiences both on and off the court.
The 2011 camp was held at the University of Richmond in conjunction with coach Chris Mooney's basketball team camp. The site is an excellent facility for a referee clinic. The camp uses several floors to accomplish the games. There are two buildings that hold the floors; the first is the Robins Center-site of the home games for the University of Richmond Spiders, and the Weinstein Center-a building dedicated to student/adult health and wellness.
The student residence hall facilities house the participants, both referees and campers alike. The rooms would be typical of student housing for a college or university. Overall the cleanliness and functionality were acceptable. The rooms are air conditioned quite well, something anyone could appreciate in Richmond, VA in June.
You will find a well appointed dining hall arrangement on campus at your disposal. Each meal has a plethora of offerings from simple to more exotic. The "mushroom stroganoff" was especially good for an industrial type food application.
The camp will start with meetings on the night before the basketball begins. Each camp session begins with an hour of classroom instruction before heading to the floor to officiate the games. The clinicians, speakers, and instructors at the camp are of exceptional note. Wayne and Gregg are no strangers to some of the top current and past officiating talent. Perspectives are offered from across a wide array of professional (NBA), and college experience.
Once the official reaches the floor, each game is observed by a clinician. Each referee is assigned a three person crew for an entire game each session. The games use a running clock, with times ranging from 20 to 15 minutes per half. Each clinician provides specific feedback to referees during and after each game. In the Robins Center, recording devices were used on both floors providing each official an opportunity to obtain valuable DVD recordings of their performance in certain games.
One of the teaching tools made available is the ability to review your DVD with a clinician. You are taught how to break down your performance looking at critical indicators such as; correct call, incorrect call, correct no call and incorrect no call. You are taught how to look at your performance on DVD much the same way that Division 1 officials and supervisor's look at games and officiating.
The clinicians as well as Gregg, Wayne, and Dennis are approachable. Serious, and even the not so serious questions are addressed and met with a care and concern for the official that is rumored to be rare at other such events. The participants get the impression that the whole experience is designed to help them improve. In fact, you will improve. Unless you show up brain dead, and if you are paying attention you are going to hear, see, or do something that will improve your game.
The overall experience is quite the bargain. In regards, to price, the camp is probably in the middle of the road as far as these things go. But, the learning and experience far exceeds the cost. Depending on where you are in your career, this camp can offer you the type of experience that will propel you to a new understanding of 3 person mechanics, as well as a new level of performance on the floor.
Basketball officials who are serious about improving their own abilities on the floor must look for experiences and opportunities for feedback that point them in that direction. This camp is an excellent camp to consider for both the novice as well as more accomplished high school referees. You will be challenged to look at what you are doing on the floor in ways that help you see improvements that can be made which will immediately increase your skill and confidence on the floor.
One last word of advice-if you go to this camp, go with the intent and attitude to learn. Put yourself in a place to accept feedback and want to make helpful adjustments. The leaders of the camp will tell you that this is a teaching camp. One thing you will certainly see quickly in this experience is where the avocation is going in regards to accountability for correct and incorrect calls. Your eyes will open to where this world of officiating has moved. You will also pick up visions of where the avocation will be going in the coming seasons. All of which if you use the information appropriately will help you to "Get The Call Right!"
