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College Football/Football Official Camps & Clinics?

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Expert: - 7/24/2006


Question
I was wondering on where I can find information on area camps and clinics on football officating. I live in South Carolina and have been a official for 1 year now and starting my 2nd. Ive looked on the internet for some info and cant seem to find any. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Jonathan,
Congrats on returning to another season.  You are a head of the game by seeking out camps and clinics.  There are 3 camps that I personally know of that are excellent and will make you a better official.  They are expensive but well worth the money, time, travel and effort.

In Fresno California during the month of June, Ken Rivera (Supervisor of officials for the Mountain West Conf.) has a camp for high school officials.  Fresno Football Officials Camp (Rating A+)  It is excellent!  If you go, you will be a much better offical than you are now. The staff are all NCAA Div. 1 and NFL officials. There is on field work as well as class room and film work.  I'm not sure of the cost, but I think it is expensive.  Five years ago it was about $300-$500 (includes Camp, meals, lodging, instruction).

Ken Rivera has one in Reno, NV (Rating A+) and Dick Honig has one in Michigan (Rating B+/A-), they are geared toward college officials or those trying to break in to the college ranks.  I recommend you go to the Reno camp after your 5th or 6th season of high school if you want to move up the ranks!!! Very expensive $900-$1000 + air fare.  It is the best football official's camp / clinic in the US.

There are some others put on by Chad Brown of the NFL - Personal Touch football Camp (Rating c+); NFL Grass Root one day camps (Rating C+).  You may want to contact NASO for additional litings in your area.

I hope this helps.

Good Luck this season.  Keep studing the rules & mechanics, now and during the season.  Find a good well respected senior offical (maybe a college official) and ask him to mentor you this season.  Work as many games as you can to perfect your mechanics and to get more familiar with the application of the rules.  Every Friday night if you are not working ask to tag along with an experienced crew of officials an watch your position and learn.

Hope this helps.

Victor Winnek
Football Official
California Football Officials Association
Long Beach Unit ( CFOA &  SCCFOA )
Western Collegiate Football Officials Association
WCFOA (LJ)  

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Vic Winnek

Expertise

Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.

Experience

24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football

Organizations
Past President of Calif. Football Officials Assoc; Western Collegiate Football Officials Assoc.; CFOA-Long Beach Unit Board of Directors CFOA-South Bay Unit & Long Beach Unit, Pres. Executive Council of Calif. Football Officials Assoc.; CIF Presidents' Council on Officiating; Chairman Ethics Committee

Publications
Referee Magazine; California Football Officials Assoc. Instructor's Guide; NACC Div. 1-AA football officials' clinic; CFOA instrutional materials; Articles written: Line of Scrimmage mechanics, Forward Progress, Side Line Warnings, 2006 NCAA New Timing Rules; various instructional materials, UWLA Law Review

Education/Credentials
BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
3 Years Reno Football Officials Clinic
4 Years UCLA Football Officials Camp Big 12 Mini Clinic NFL Grass Roots Clinic Aloha Clinic, Honolulu, HI West Coast Alliance Clinic

Awards and Honors
NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final

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