The first Rising Star camp was in 2016 with a girl’s camp at Olentangy High School and established guidelines for mechanics by using video, handouts and extensive on the floor observations. Our first Clinicians were Collegiate officials John Whitson and Donnie Green, both OHSAA Hall Of Fame members and under the tutelage of Diana Plas and Rob Doss who were, and still are, NCAA Collegiate Assigners. The camp also featured video review of games the officials had just officiated coordinated by Rick Barnes and Steve Lazroff.
Olentangy had similar camps the next two years and the Rising Star brand expanded to other sites with the balance of the camps being primarily hosted at Universities and Colleges throughout Ohio. Marietta, Ohio Dominican University, Denison, Otterbein, Rio Grande and Shawnee State have all hosted one or more Rising Star Officiating camps.
From 2016 thru this year, fifteen camps with twelve Basic and three Advanced camps have taken place. The camps have provided many opportunities to advance officiating careers with camp participants earning high school JV, Varsity and Tournament assignments, including State Championship games. Many have advanced to the Collegiate and Professional levels, working on staff of conferences , including Conference Championships and NCAA Tournments.
This year’s camp will continue to provide officials the best training and exposure to meet each individuals goal