referee

The day started like every other day with the lectures on the court early in the morning, but since it was in the middle of the week it was also rest day with slightly different activities. Everybody was excited! On the program today, we had excursion to Ustka, a small coastal town, a popular destination for recreation. Kuba had booked bikes and we were all ready for a nice biking trip along the Polish seaside. However, before the rest, we had our regular rotation, transition and signals (w/verbal support) practice followed by the FIBA yoyo test (to not be confused with YOLO), a mandatory test for the Basketball Championsleague (BCL) referees. All campers gave their full energy before the rest and the passing rate was correspondingly high. We could all referee in the BCL! ?

Arriving to the biking rental, we were surprised that our reserved bikes were already rented out. Maybe the owner was related to one of the loosing teams – we don’t know, but it did not change our mood and after a quick discussion we decided to grab a coffee and take a walk on the beach instead. Rest or not, the topic was basketball refereeing. Also, well within of the “get better” spirit of the camp, the instructors asked what topics the campers missed and how the camp can improve. A few minor details were mentioned such as traditional note books with basket court watermark which we have seen on previous Referee.pl camps or topics which were already planned for the next days. It is hard to find what can be better when the camp is having such a high quality. The instructors are constantly available to answer all kinds of questions, review clips and explain whatever challenges we might have from 8am to after midnight every day.

After the nice excursion we were again ready for new games and to apply the topics we are practicing every morning on the court. Like previous days, we had camera glasses and audio devices on to record situations from all angles and receive instant feedback from Semen, Kuba and Marcin. We finished with a nice sauna session, but the rest day, although with more social activities was no exception to the other days – we are getting better.

Filip Szczesny
Norway

The second day started also in the gym early in the morning with 3PO mechanics. We practiced more about rotations, responsabilities of the referees and fast break situations, after which we continued with the physical preparation, the beep test. Before lunch, we cut clips from the games in the previous day and discussed different special situations. Also small jogging at the stadium and good lunch. In the afternoon we had together the pregame meeting and 30 min warm up with the players before the games. The same as yesterday, we were two grups, one was officiating when another working out in the gym, each game we switch . After dinner, we finished with yoga session, where we stretched out more muscles than we knew we had. Hard day for all of us, but we’re still going strong.

Ioana Cojocaru
Netherlands

We start our Survival Camp with the 3PO fundamentals training and the criteria in the camps in the morning, try to apply the learning and common understanding in the game practice in the coming few days, then we end with a running practice For the morning. In the afternoon, we divided into 2 groups, one of them officiating the game and practice we what we learn this morning. The other group went to gym, we have leg day today. After dinner, we went to Ustka to enjoy the beach. We sat down to have a dinner and knowing each other’s culture and background. It’s a great time for us. We working hard, we are tired but happy.

Ho Yuen Toby Mok
Hong Kong