The Season is Almost Here

Wait a minute, its only the end of April... basketball season just ended right? Not really. It's two months off then back to the office. Most people think basketball referees put on ugly polyester black pants, a stripe shirt, whistle and shoes, call the game and go home. NOT exactly. 
This is How it goes.Around the first week of June the basketball summer season starts. This season is full of training camps and summer basketball leagues where high school and college teams get together and are doing the same thing we are... working hard, training and learning. So, we work as much as possible as there are games to do just about every day from June 1 to the middle of July. 
Training for us involves going to camps working games and being coached by trainers from all over the country. Theses trainers or observers are the best of the best. They will be on the court and in the stands filming every move. Think of it as boot camp. Even the best go and learn or sharpen skills. 
The summer tournaments are also a great place to get better. Schools will host a weekend tournament to raise money for their team or school and the need referees. This is a great place to chat informally with coaches and players to help set the tone when the real season starts. It is real basketball but the setting is a bit casual and you can talk strategy and theory with coaches. It is also a great place to mend any situations that may have occurred during the season and make things better. 
I remember being in a situation with a coach several years ago. I called a technical foul on this coach 27 seconds into the game. That has to be some sort of record. Well, needless to say we had issues all season. When the summer season started we had an opportunity to sit down and talk about it. Since then I think we have grown to respect each other and I can tell you that coach still works hard and is very good. I think he understands that so do I. 
We work through June and July then take August off and are back at it in the fall with more training and film review. By the time November rolls along the regular season begins but we have been working all summer and fall and are ready to go.