Issue 48, January 1, 2004
MACBOA Newsletter

In this Issue:

• Remarks from the Supervisor of Officials: Donnee L. Gray
• An Interview with Ron Mann, Athletic Director, PGCC
• Flexibility Facts (Rene Bates MSPT, CSCS)
• QUIZ TIME! Quiz Number 2
• Basketball Officials Association (BOA) Items from Lionel Butler, President
• Member News & Information
• Order your MACBOA Logo Whistles
• Submitting Articles for MACBOA Consideration
• MACBOA Volunteers
• Newsletter Contact/Information

The MACBOA Newsletter is a periodic (twice a month during November through March and monthly July through October) publication of the Mid-Atlantic College Basketball Officials Association (MACBOA). MACBOA provides basketball officiating services to several colleges and universities in the Maryland - Washington, DC area. The Association has a membership of approximately 200 men and women officials. Our membership consist of men and women who work Divisions I, II, and III basketball.  We pride our Association on providing quality and professional service.

The usefulness and survival of this newsletter is going to depend on the participation of subscribers and professionals alike. Please help by submitting personal stories, experiences, and articles of general interest to the MACBOA community.

The MACBOA Newsletter is made possible by the kind support of our sponsors.  We thank our sponsors for making the newsletter and other programs possible. Please visit our web site at http://www.macboa.org.  As always, please visit our sponsors and thank them for keeping MACBOA operational.

Remarks from the Supervisor of Officials: Donnee L. Gray

A special thank you to all of those officials and observers who worked member institution holiday tournaments. As we begin the second half of the season, MACBOA staff are reminded that it is our mission to provide the highest quality officiating services for member institutions by enhancing levels of communication and appraisal/evaluation systems. MACBOA strives to place the best on staff and encourages each official to take care of each game, take care of administrative matters, and be good partners. With that is mind, here are some areas to review and act on.

1. Bench decorum: I have observed and received feedback from observers/crew chief reports and coaches that one coach is observing bench decorum rule and the other coach is not. Therefore, for the remainder of the season those officials who do not adhere to enforcing the bench decorum rule will either be removed from a game assignment and/or removed from the staff.

   Prior to Game Tip-off: Teams gathering in the center circle. It has been previously established that during introductions and before the game begins, players are not allowed to huddle or demonstrate in or near the center circle. Please pass on this reminder to Athletic Directors and coaches that, following introduction of players, teams should move toward the free throw circle in front of their respective bench - not the center circle. Coaches need to remind their players that this is not allowed, and officials must be alert to prevent any incidents.

   Coaches/Athletic Directors: We need your assistance in your personnel adhering to the rule as to how to conduct themselves prior to tip off.

2. Mechanics: We are, and have always used, NCAA mechanics. If you wish to use high school mechanics or home made mechanics, do it someplace else. Mechanics include switches, violations, fouls, reporting to the table, and so forth.

   Please remember three things when double-whistles occur: (1) remember whose primary area the play is in first; (2) find the other whistle (the person who is blowing the other whistle); and (3) a combination of numbers 1 and 2 should slow you down enough that you do not fall into two different scenarios.

   When a foul is called and free throws are involved, it is with the utmost importance that you communicate with the lead official (1) the correct player who is shooting and (2) the correct number of shots. Do not assume that the lead official knows who the shooter is or the number of shots to be taken. Officials should not put the ball in play until all officials are ready to resume play. This includes resumption of play during throw-in situations, the substitution process and free throw situations.

3. Arrival at Game Sites: Some of you are not allowing sufficient time to be at the game site
   1-1/2 hours prior to game time.

   MACBOA Staff may now print out the complete staff roster including names, addresses, all phone numbers. We recommend that you periodically print out the complete roster and have it available as part of your travel documents. It is important to keep your personal information and closed dates updated in The Arbiter.net system.

   Please have a copy of the MACBOA College and Travel Directory with you. Access the information at http://www.macboa.org/about/directory.html.

   Observers and crew chiefs, please make a note in your reports of any late arrival officials. Our institutions do not deserve having to wonder where the officials are before the game. Therefore, if it comes to my attention that an official arrived late to a game site and it was not reported in the game report, there will be a fine enforced.

4. Dress: It has been reported that some of you are arriving to game assignments not dressed professionally. If you cannot adhere to the policy of dressing professionally for a game assignment, then please do not accept the assignment.

5. Assignments: We have had a number of turn backs as a result of higher divisional assignments. As stated at the Clinic, please call the MACBOA (301-283-6807) or Willie Jones (202-543-7049) between 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings to advise of your availability for the upcoming week. Assignments are being done via The Arbiter.net. Please be sure to check daily; game assignments will be posted for 48-hours only and then reassigned.

   We have had incidents in games of which I have not been made aware. I am hearing from coaches and observers, but not officials. When coaches or players get ejected from a game, I need to know immediately. Do not let me hear it from a coach. If so, you will be removed from an assignment or terminated from the staff. Leave the information on my cell phone ... not at work.

   Coaches/Athletic Directors: We have discovered, either by voicemail or an email, information concerning a game cancellation, a game rescheduling, or a time change. REMINDER: You must speak to someone. It is okay to leave a message. But you must speak to someone. Please follow the emergency procedures (http://www.macboa.org/policies/emergency.html).

6. Officials Uniforms: As you know, uniforms and officiating equipment may be purchased from David Posner, of Purchase Officials Supply (david_posner@hotmail.com). A friendly reminder, I do not want to see or hear of any official coming from the locker room during the second half of a game with a sweat-stained shirt. It does not look professional. It is not professional. Observers: please take note of officials’ uniforms in your reports.

   Player Head Bands: We seem to be inconsistent with logos on headbands, specifically the "NBA logo." In terms of logos on headbands, a player shall comply with Rules 3-6.I & 3-7.7. Both address manufacturer's or distributor's logos, etc. An NBA logo would be illegal by rule. The NBA is NOT a manufacturer or a distributor.

7. Pre-game, post-game, table personnel: It is mandatory that each crew conduct a pre-game and post-game conference with their crew, and the table personnel. Observers, please make sure this is being done.

   Coaches: We need your assistance. The visiting teams are consistently calling me about the home teams' table personnel mistakes. If you are the home team, please have your table personnel at the game at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time. It is difficult when the table personnel arrive five minutes before a game, make mistakes, and then the officials are blamed for the errors.

   Observers, please make note in your game report.

8. Points of Emphasis. The following points of emphasis apply to both men and women. There is no place in the basketball game or the rulebook that allows for rough play. This includes post play, with and without the ball; screens; picks; off ball play; body bumping; and, hand-checking. Call it at the beginning and throughout the game so that at the end of the game the call is not surprising to the coaches and players. Those who allow rough play to go on throughout the game have no chance of receiving post-season assignments.
   Please see the whole play through until the end before you blow your whistle. There are some good block shots and great steals in the junior college game.

   Please referee your primary area remembering that you also have a secondary responsibility in a basketball game.

   Taunting and baiting ... remember to TCB ("take care of business").
   Flagrant, intentional and end-of-game fouls. Once again, please see the entire play through (let the play begin, develop, and end) prior to blowing your whistle. We do not want to over penalize a player because we did not see the play through. Please review end of game fouls such as intentional versus strategic fouls. A strategic foul could be made by a defender to stop the clock and this is not an intentional foul.

   Blood and injury situations: Please review blood and injury situations. I have observed them being improperly administered at the Division I level on a number of occasions. Let's be sure they do not filter down to our level in the wrong way. Cover this subject matter in your pre-game.

9. Coaches/Observers: Please be sure to complete your forms. We have been receiving forms with incorrect officials' names on the assignments, illegible handwriting, and the form not completely filled out. Coaches, it does not help our program if you feel an official should be rated "2" or below with no information coming from your office. Too often there are personal feelings interjected in place of objective, reasonable evaluations. If you have sent an evaluation form rating officials a 2 or lower without the game film, we cannot use the evaluation.

10. I hope everyone had a tremendous and safe holiday. We wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year. We thank you for your part in making MACBOA a success.

An Interview with Ron Mann, Athletic Director, PGCC

MACBOA is pleased to have the opportunity to visit with Ron Mann, Athletic Director, Prince George's Community College. This interview occurred as Prince George's Community College Men's Basketball Team is preparing to play Penn State - Beaver County College, Saturday, December 20, 2003.

MACBOA: What attracted you to a career in athletic administration?
Mann: I originally went into athletics to coach. This is my 40th year in athletics as a coach and administrator. I feel that as an administrator I can have an influence on the total athletic program at the school as opposed to just the programs I coach.

MACBOA: Please give a brief summary of what Prince George's Community College (PGCC) is all about?
Mann: Prince George's Community College offers more than 50 areas of study and over 1,000 courses every semester. Courses are available at every academic level—from developmental to honors. Students find PGCC convenient because the college offers extension centers, telecredit courses, and weekend courses, and childcare facilities are nearby. I feel the most important part of athletics is for the student to realize they are more importantly here for an education along with the athletics. I feel the women's programs are as important as the men's programs and that bowling and tennis are just as important as basketball and baseball.

MACBOA: Please comment on the coaches you have on staff, especially Coach John Wiley.
Mann: I am very happy with my staff. I feel they all place education first and athletics second. I have known John Wiley for 30 years. I was coaching when he started playing here then went to George Mason University. John is very dedicated to our students and spends many long hours working with them and placing them in four (4) year institutions.

MACBOA: What are your thoughts on athletics today?
Mann: I feel they are still very important today and that discipline is more important. Many schools do not stress discipline. We DO stress this and feel that in many cases this is the only discipline they receive.

MACBOA: What areas need change in order to assist the student-athlete today?
Mann: We could have more qualified coaches and additional funding would help. I feel today's athletes should not have everything handed to them or receive special treatment. They should be made to have satisfactory grades and not be pushed along because they are athletes.

MACBOA: What is Maryland JUCO Region XX?
Mann: Maryland JUCO is an athletic conference composed of all community colleges in the state of Maryland. The Region XX is composed of Maryland, West Virginia, and the western part of Pennsylvania.

MACBOA: Being a former President of the Athletic Director's of Region XX, what was your legacy?
Mann: I was inducted into the Region XX Athletic Director's Hall of Fame and am currently the Region XX Assistant Director and President of the National Junior College Soccer Coaches. I hope that the region feels that I always enforced the sportsmanship policies (I currently Chair the Standard and Ethics Committee). I feel they know I support women's athletics on an even par with the men's programs. I work hard at the national level on many committees to promote sports nationally and also to support our Region.

MACBOA: What improvements need to be addressed today?
Mann: I feel there should be a strong emphasis placed on the young kids to have proper coaching and facilities for them to play. The value of athletics needs to be stressed and tied in with the importance of athletics. There should be stronger rules regarding the conduct of athletes at the college level and if they are not followed, they should not be permitted to play.

Hometown: Prince George's County – Oxon Hill, MD
Occupation: Taught in Prince George's County, MD, for 40 years.
Currently in 33rd year as Athletic Director at Prince George's Community College
Education: Master's Degree, George Washington University, Washington, DC and
Bachelor's of Science, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
Other: Former President, Maryland JUCO. Currently Asst. Region XX Director,
President of national Soccer Committee, Chair- Standard and Ethics Committee;
currently on several national committees and over the years has received
numerous coaching and Athletic Director awards.

Contributing article republished with permission
Flexibility Facts (Rene Bates MSPT, CSCS)

Ok, all right. Everyone talks about stretching. There are many myths out there that cause good efforts to improve flexibility and decrease injury to fail. Let's get right to the facts. When you stretch after you warm up, you are improving mobility of the connective tissue and stimulating your muscles to prepare for activity. You are not going to obtain long-term flexibility from a pre-stretch.

Long-term flexibility improvement can only come from holding your body in appropriate alignment while performing your daily activities i.e. like sitting, sleeping, and standing. It is also maintained by using your body while maintaining alignment i.e. lifting, moving from sit to stand, getting out of bed, brushing your teeth etc. The adage if you don't use it you loose it applies here. For example when you where 15 or 16 years old you would bend at your hips to put your shoes on. Now most of you bend at your low back. Because of the change in how you move most people loose flexibility in the hips. Other areas people commonly loose flexibility are their Latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, hamstrings, hip flexors, hip abductors, hip external rotators. Basically around their hips and shoulder girdle is where most people loose flexibility.

Once your hips and shoulder girdles tend to loose flexibility then bad changes occur in your spine. You see, if the body looses flexibility in one area then another area has to move more to make up for it. In this case it will be your spine. Typically, degenerative changes occur in your neck and your low back. These areas are forced to move more and they wear out from being over stretched.

One last note to consider. Not everyone has the same flexibility issues; in fact each person is different. Therefore not all stretches are good for everyone. If you read a magazine with ten stretches in it, five you may not need, two may help you and three may hurt you. The bottom line is do not waste your time doing exercises and stretches you are unsure of, get help from a professional. Stop and ask for directions. Exercise should be safe, efficient and rewarding because you want to achieving your goals.

QUIZ TIME! Lets get into the rulebook! Quiz Number 2

The following questions must be returned to Donnee L. Gray, MACBOA Supervisor of Officials by
January 10, 2004 to be in good standing and to be eligible for consideration of MACBOA assignments.

If you do not have a current 2004 Rules and Interpretations Book, see the previous section for information on how to receive a the 2004 Rule Book.

In answering the questions 1through 6 and 11 through 16, answer “Yes” or “No” and you are also required to cite the 2003-04 NCAA Rule Book reference. Officials working men's or women's basketball may answer the questions according to the respective men's or women's codes.
Cut-and-paste the quiz and e-mail your test with answers to dgray@macboa.org.
Do not FAX. Use E-mail!

Remember to take care of administrative matters!

PRINT NAME: _________________________________________________

CHECK ONE: ______ Men's Official ______ Women's Official

1. A1’s throw-in is touched by an opponent. While the ball is loose, the throw-in team commits a common foul. The official rules this a team-control foul. Is the official correct?

2. In a game in which the commercial format calls for at least three timeouts in either half, Team A is charged with an indirect technical foul for calling an excessive timeout. The official grants the team requesting the excessive timeout a 60-second timeout. Is the official correct?

3. An unsporting technical foul is assessed to the head coach. The official notifies the scorer that the technical foul counts as a team foul toward the bonus. Is the official correct?

4. A1 travels but the official nearest to A1 fails to make the call. A second elapses and the official opposite the play blows his or her whistle and confers with the other official. After a brief discussion, the officials rule that A1 traveled and award the ball to Team B. Were the officials correct?

5. A1’s throw-in from the frontcourt area is deflected into the backcourt by A2. A2 is the first to touch the ball in the backcourt. The official rules this a backcourt violation. Is the official correct?

6. Before A1 releases the ball on the first free throw of a one-and-one, A2 fouls B2. Team B is in the bonus. The official rules this a team-control foul, allows A1 to attempt his free throw(s) and awards B2 no free throws. Is the official correct?

7. What MACBOA corporate sponsor sponsored the 2002-03 MACBOA Golf extravaganza?

8. If you’re comfortable with your overall financial picture but are concerned about, say, which 529 college savings plan to choose, which MACBOA sponsor is best suited to assist you?

9. Since this is a great time of the year for real estate transactions, what MACBOA sponsor offers discounts?

10. What MACBOA sponsor can help with mortgage planning or refinancing?

11. During A1’s interrupted dribble a double personal foul is committed. The possession arrow favors Team B. The official awards the ball to Team A at a designated spot nearest to where the foul occurred with the unexpired time. Is the official correct?

12. A1 attempts a try as time expires in the first half. The official responsible for the call signals that the try was successful. To determine if the try was released before the signal sounded, the referee uses the courtside monitor. Is the referee correct?

13. A1’s throw-in is touched in the frontcourt but not controlled by A2. While the ball is loose in the frontcourt, the official starts the three-second violation count. Is the official correct?

14. With 1:40 remaining on the game clock, Team A successfully completes a throw-in but the official timer fails to properly start the game clock. Team A commits a traveling violation. Before the ball is placed at the disposal of Team B for a throw-in, the official recognizes and corrects the mistake. Is the official correct?

15. While A1’s pass is in the air between A1 and A2, A3 commits a common foul. Team B is in the bonus. The official rules this a team-control foul and therefore awards no free throws. Is the official correct?

16. While A1’s try is in flight, the officials assess a double direct technical foul. The try is successful. The official rules that the penalties offset each other, awards no free throws, awards Team B the ball and allows Team B to run the end line. Is the official correct?

Basketball Officials Association (BOA) Items from Lionel Butler, President

Congratulations to Steve Kordak. Steve takes over the Ethics/Grievance position for the Basketball Officials Association (BOA).

On behalf of the BOA Board of Directors, I would like to thank all members who have sent in their membership dues for the upcoming year. If you have not sent in your dues, please feel free to contact me or any member of the BOA Board of Directors. Check out the link http://www.macboa.org/policies/index.html#directors.

Please let us know of any MACBOA member news that we should send cards, flowers, etc. The BOA is there for our membership and we can only act if we know of events. Events include sick members and their family members, condolence notices, as well as communication about professional appointments and selections to conferences and leagues. Again, the BOA wants to improve the communication between members and WE need your help. Please use us!

Member News & Information

Congratulations to our very own, Bill McCaffrey, Observer. On Friday, January 9, 2004, Bill will host his 800th PGCTV Show and you are invited to attend. If you can make it, please contact Bill at BMcCaf@aol.com or call 410-255-1427.

Congrats to Chris Miller and his wife on the birth of their newborn son, Chase Todd Miller!

Congratulations to all MACBOA staff who officiated NCAA holiday tournaments at the D-I, D-II and D-III level. Continue to work smart and represent MACBOA strong.

Order your MACBOA Logo Whistles!

Be the first to receive your MACBOA logo Fox-40 Classic Whistle while supplies last!

Send your payment of $5.00 for each whistle ordered to Ike Relacion, c/o MACBOA Logo Whistle, 21112 Archstone Way, Unit 101, Germantown, MD 20876-6996.

Submitting Articles for MACBOA Consideration

Thank you for your interest in submitting an article for consideration on www.macboa.org.

We accept well-written features, how-to articles, "how I did it" success stories, tips and hints, motivational articles and other articles that will help our audience gain knowledge and succeed in their officiating avocation.

We do not accept articles that are primarily advertisements. However, you may place a biographical section at the end of your article. It should be no more than 30 to 40 words in length. It would be nice if you could include a 60x60 picture of you in .gif or .jpeg format.

Below are instructions for submitting your article to the MACBOA.org web site. We ask that you read the terms of your Agreement with MACBOA.org carefully.

Please note: We only accept submissions from the original author of the articles or a publicist hired by the copyright owner to submit material here. By submitting material, you acknowledge that you are legally entitled to distribute the work and to allow it to be redistributed. (If you are a book publisher or public relations firm with copy to distribute, please include a note to that effect at the top of the article you submit.) We do not pay for articles, and do not accept articles that are primarily advertisements. However, you may place a brief resource box and contact information (but no ads) at the end of your article.

To send your article, click on the "Article Submission Form" and answer the questions and then copy and paste your submission into the space provided. We have provided a copy of the form below. Please be sure your by-line appears below the title of the article. Click on the submit button to complete the process and or cut-and-paste the completed form and your article to macboa1@aol.com.

Reward, challenge, appreciation, stimulation, writing, reading...rarely thanked or noticed.

These are some of the attributes of the well hidden job of MACBOA Newsletter Volunteer. Are you interested in working behind the scenes (screens?) to help get information to members? MACBOA is looking to grow our ranks by a couple of folks and thus, we're soliciting volunteers.

What do you do? Read postings. Write articles, membership news, coordinate interviews, cultivate sponsor relations, etc. Write e-mail back and forth amongst us to establish communication, and guidance to keep this list as valuable as possible for our membership. Although we're virtual, our presence is sensed, we hope...and appreciated, although rarely acclaimed.

We haven't a job description, nor do we know what knowledge, skills, and abilities are required, but some that will come in handy are:

• having the ability to write
  
• being thick skinned, not thick headed
  
• being able to express your opinions, while being open minded
  
• having at least a free hour or two a week caring for the membership
  

Please respond directly by e-mail to: irelacion@aol.com

HOW TO CONTACT THE NEWSLETTER COORDINATOR

MACBOA welcomes and encourages news and information for the periodic newsletter. Please submit all materials to address letters of comment, article proposals and queries, or news items to:

Ike Relacion, (301) 371-8520
E-mail: irelacion@aol.com

MACBOA Newsletter Information

MACBOA, INC provides the MACBOA newsletter. MACBOA is a nonprofit organization providing information about membership news. The MACBOA.ORG Newsletter's contents may be quoted and reused as long as attribution is included with the reprinting and/or posting.

MACBOA nor its guest contributors shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be have been caused, directly or indirectly by the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in this newsletter

MACBOA does not share its email lists. We value and respect your privacy.

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