Issue 59, January 5, 2006
MACBOA Newsletter

In this Issue:

• Remarks from the Supervisor of Officials: Donnee L. Gray
• Flexibility Facts (Rene Bates MSPT, CSCS)
• QUIZ TIME! Let’s get into the rulebook! Quiz Number 2
• Basketball Officials Association (BOA) Items
• MACBOA Member News
• Submitting Articles for MACBOA Consideration
• MACBOA Volunteers
• Newsletter Contact/Information

The MACBOA Newsletter is a periodic newsletter 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.

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.

Traveling.  There has been inconsistency by officials in adjudicating some aspects of the traveling rule.  Officials must do a better job of recognizing when a post player changes his pivot when making a move to the basket.  Too many of these violations have been ignored.  Officials must also be more consistent in penalizing traveling violations by a player taking too many steps while in possession of the ball after a dribble is ended.

Palming:  Continue to be vigilant on calling this violation.

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 us be sure they do not filter down to our level in the wrong way. Cover this subject matter in your pre-game.

Crew Chiefs are required to complete online game reports by logging onto www.assignbyweb.com/macboa and clicking on “Forms.”  Game reports are due within 24 hours of an assignment.  Remember that any fighting incidents, ejections, or unusual game situations are to be reported to the Supervisor of Officials immediately after the assignment.

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.

Officials’ Mechanics: Observers have reported that officials need to move to get the best possible angle on a play.  In any position (T, C, L), officials should not let players dictate their angle on a play.  You primary responsibility is to referee match-ups, so get to a position where you can see through the play.  When going from T to L, hustle to get into position to accept the play.

New Men’s Mechanic:  On those plays when the lead official gives the ball to the player making a sideline throw-in, the trail official will assume all responsibilities for throw-in violations including the five-second count.  The lead official, after getting the ball to the player making the throw-in will return to his normal officiating responsibilities.  This change is effective immediately.  During free throws, the lead official must remain out of the free thrower’s vision and not move until after the free throw is taken.

Double Whistles:  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.

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, and 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 AssignBYweb system (www.assignbyweb.com/macboa) and click on “Reports.”

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.

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.

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.  Please review the new disqualification process and new Shot Clock procedures with the table personnel. 

Administering the fifth foul.  When a player is disqualified for committing his fifth foul, there must be a first horn at fifteen seconds and a second horn at twenty seconds.  Under no circumstances are officials allowed to instruct a timer to forego the second horn.

Resumption of Play:    I have observed inconsistency by officials putting the ball back into play after a time out.  As part of your pre-game with the table, instruct them to give 2 horns prior to putting the ball in play.  Being consistent early in the game should send a message to teams that the ball will be put in play after the second horn.

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.

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

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! Let’s get into the rulebook! Quiz Number 2

The following questions must be returned to Donnee L. Gray, MACBOA Supervisor of Officials by January 12, 2006 to be in good standing and to be eligible for consideration of MACBOA assignments.

In answering the following scenarios, answer s must include supporting rulebook citation. 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

Scenario 1: There are 37 seconds (men) or 32 seconds (women) on the game clock and 35 seconds (men) or 30 seconds (women) on the shot clock.  Team A uses time before A1 releases the ball for a try for goal.  After A1 releases the ball, the shot clock horn sounds.  The ball does not strike the ring or flange.  The official calls a shot-clock violation. At the same time as the official’s whistle, the game clock sounds signaling that the period has ended.  Shall the official put two seconds back on the game clock?

Scenario 2: When a personal foul is followed by contact that is ruled either as intentional or flagrant, how are the penalties administered and where is the ball put in play?

Scenario 3: When a personal foul is followed by behavior that is extreme, persistent,
vulgar or abusive and is ruled as a non-contact flagrant technical foul, how are the
penalties administered and where is the ball put in play?

Scenario 4: When an indirect or direct technical foul has been assessed and contact
occurs which is ruled as either flagrant or intentional, how are the penalties administered
in addition, where is the ball put in play?

Scenario 5: When a personal foul is followed by the assessment of an indirect or direct
technical foul, how are the penalties administered and where is the ball put in play?

Lionel Butler

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

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.

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!

MACBOA Member News

Willie “L.A.” Jones is recuperating well from surgery.   Willie and his family want to thank MACBOA for all the flowers, cards. phone calls and wishes all the very best today and always!

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.

Return to Home Page MACBOA Post Office Box 98 Bryans Road, MD 20616