Issue 72, December 6, 2007
MACBOA Newsletter

In this Issue:

• Remarks from the Supervisor of Officials: Donnee L. Gray
• NJCAA National Rankings as of November 29, 2007
• MACBOA Member Spotlight:  5 Minutes with Ike Relacion
• QUIZ TIME!
• NCAA Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis (2007-2008)
• 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

To Officials: Please work smart in each assignment.  Based on Observer reports, Crew Chief Reports, Head Coaches feedback and other sources, there has been slippage in allowing too much physical play/displacement, hand-checking and enforcement of the POEs and rule changes. All officials especially Crew Chiefs must work smart to keep game crews focused, consistent, and give good leadership to our younger officials.  Take each assignment and WORK the game from the opening tap to the final buzzer. There will be no warning and a zero tolerance policy must be enforced consistently concerning technical fouls for verbal, non-verbal taunting, baiting, and trash talking by players.

It is early in the season and staff must increase game intensity and game awareness.

Crew Chiefs must review MATCH-UP coverage with crews.

The Crew Chief will instruct the timer that there is to be a horn for every substitution at the table. A player must be at the “X” with uniform shirt tucked in game shorts in order to be beckoned into the game. They should not sound the horn as a player is on his/her way to the table.  Review with the Timer that after a warning horn for a time-out, there should be a final horn prior to resumption of play.

Any atypical situations must include the consensus of at least two of the officials. Officials must be aware of the differences in calling flagrant versus fighting fouls.

As we begin the 2007-08 season, I would like to mention that my goal is to place the best in each and every MACBOA assignment.  As mentioned in the pre-season clinic, we plan to reduce the staff by 25% next year. MACBOA strives to place the best on staff and encourages each official to take care of the game, take care of administrative matters, and be good partners.

All staff must understand one thing: After careful deliberation on the potential impact on the organization and the future of MACBOA services, my decision is the last word!

To Head Coaches: Coaches must understand that MACBOA is committed to enforce the guidelines established during the preseason clinic for the entire season. Necessary adjustments by coaches and players must be made. Style of play will not dictate how officials officiate. If you feel that the officiating was below average, then please call me with your concerns and send me the videotape with documentation so I can review the information.

Observers:  As an Observer, we are requesting that you arrive at least 60-minutes prior to game time to assure that the crew has arrived and if they have not, to enforce the Emergency Contact Procedures (http://www.macboa.org/policies/emergency.html).  

Other Items:

1. MACBOA staff are reminded to check your e-mail account on a daily basis. Game assignments are sent via e-mail from support@thearbiter.net and are posted for 48-hours only. If you do not respond within that time frame, the game will be reassigned.
2. Both crew chief and observer reports can be completed online and submitted via e-mail.  Please complete reports in a timely manner.
3. When you call on Sunday evenings to advise of your availability, please call the office telephone number (301-283-6807). If you receive voicemail, simply leave a message regarding your availability for the week. You can also call Willie Jones at 202-360-9915.
   
4. Reminder: It is mandatory for the Crew Chief to contact his/her crew at least 48-hours in advance of the game. Officials must consistently plan travel time in accordance with mileage, weather and traffic. None of these are considered valid excuses for missing or being late to an assignment.

Check the weather and plan your trips accordingly. Allow plenty of time and take along the phone numbers of the campus police (see above link for College Directory information). Please make sure your phone numbers are correct with the MACBOA office and if your crew is not traveling together, keep close contact with each other by cell phone.

NJCAA National Rankings as of November 29, 2007

New Column:  MACBOA Member Spotlight:  5 Minutes with Ike Relacion

Ike Relacion is an active MACBOA member and has officiated basketball for over 17 years.  He has had the opportunity to work at the Division I, II and III level and officiated women’s professional basketball.  He resides in Middletown, MD with his wife, Valerie and daughters, Gianna and Isabella.

MACBOA:  How did you get into officiating and how did you progress?  I wanted to stay close to the sport I played in college.  I met Donnee Gray over 15 years ago while working a recreation league game.  Donnee was evaluating another official and I asked him if he could stay around and give me an evaluation.  His evaluation was 3 pages long front and back on a yellow legal pad.  At that point, I made the commitment to learn as much as I could and improve in each and every game.  Through being patient and being lucky, I got the opportunity to officiate at the collegiate level in my 5 year and progressed to higher levels.

MACBOA:  What advise would you like to impart to readers?

*As the seasons are cyclical, so is officiating.  Be patient and be ready when your opportunity comes.  It is active succession planning: I was given an opportunity to replace someone at the collegiate level and the same will happen to me.  Being ready means being rule book literate and game smart.  I was fortunate to have mentors like Donnee, Willie Jones, Kenny Clark, and Tommie Scott to discuss the business of officiating with.  I also had a core of friends that were instrumental in my growth.  Together, we were called, “The Group,” and I would like to acknowledge Kenny Clark, Robert “Tito” Roman, Carl Bullard and Judge Jackson at this time.  We pushed each other to reach new skill sets.  One common thread that we had was we made officiating work for us and not the other way around.  Each of us stayed with individual priorities:  full-time occupation, family and personal enrichment.  I’ve been fortunate to travel to interesting places, have met good people and make extra money along the way.  Besides the individuals mentioned already, there are others that have helped my development as an official as well as a person: Thomas Barnett, George Toliver, Jimmy Howell, Charles Ball, Agnes Newman and Brenda Gelston,

*Referee on skill and not reputation – As players work to better their skills, I worked smart to upgrade my officiating skill sets.  We better ourselves by the not-so-positive game experiences and migrating things learned to other settings. 

*Don’t Feed the Hog or Ignore the Elephant:  It is better to seek resolution on concerns by going right to the source.  Communication is critical to understanding issues, both in officiating and in our everyday lives.

*Seek to Understand – Coaches have one goal and that is to win.  Officials need to understand that.  Posturing is part of the business.  Learn what a coach, player and team desires and then assist them to understand your role.  Once done, this crucial conversation will make any situation better and your ability to manage relationships will reach higher levels.

Take care of the Crew and the Crew will take care of You - Being a good crew chief requires preparation prior to the game in working out travel, having a dialogue on the assignment at hand and getting a feel for each partner.  It is crucial that each member of the crew feels comfortable and that each understands that they are there to be ambassadors of the game.  Whistle while you work,

*Support System – Remember those who make your ability to do your avocation possible.  I am very grateful for my better half and support person, Valerie, who lets me run up and down the court.  Once in a while, she lets me order what I want to eat whenever we go out.

_______________________________________________________________________

QUIZ TIME! Let’s Get into the Rule Book! Quiz/Test Number #1

The following questions must be returned to Donnee L. Gray, MACBOA Supervisor of Officials postmarked or sent via email no later than December 15, 2007 to be in good standing and to be eligible for consideration of MACBOA assignments.

Officials working men's or women's basketball may answer the questions according to the respective codes.

Cut-and-paste the quiz and e-mail your test with answers to dgray@macboa.org.

Faxed submission will NOT be accepted as meeting the requirement.  Use E-mail or regular postal mail! 

PRINT NAME: _________________________________________________

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

Play Situations

Play 1: Team A is in control of the ball when A2 and B2 commit a double personal foul
which is followed by a direct technical foul assessed to the coach of Team B.

Play 2. The ball is at the disposal of Team A for a throw-in along the sideline adjacent to the
front court boundary line. A1 attempts to throw the in-bounds pass to A2, who is located in
his front court near the division line. A1’s pass is deflected by B1. A2 leaves the playing
court in his front court and while airborne, controls the ball, and then lands with one or both
feet on the back court.

Play 3: The official goes to the monitor to determine whether a flagrant foul occurred.
Upon review, he determines that there is no flagrant foul but did observe (1) a personal
foul, (2) an intentional foul, or (3) an unsportsmanlike act. May these infractions be
penalized?

Play 4: During a free throw attempt by A-1, B-2 and B-3 mistakenly position themselves
in the “old” first marked lane spaces adjacent to the end line on each side of the lane.
Likewise, A-2 and A-3 occupy the next marked lane spaces above the block on each side
of the lane. How should this be handled?

Play 5: A-1 is assessed a direct technical foul. B-6 and B-7 have legally reported to the
official scorer. When may they legally enter the game?

Play 6: A-1 is assessed a direct technical foul. B-6 and B-7 have legally reported to the
official scorer. A-1’s technical foul is his 5th disqualifying foul. When may B-6 and B-7
enter the game?

Play 7: A-1 is assessed a direct technical foul. B-6 and B-7 have legally reported to the
official scorer. The coach decides to substitute B-8 who is designated to attempt the free
throws for A-1’s technical. When may B-6 and B-7 enter the game?

   NCAA Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis (2007-2008)

Courtside Monitor.  Rule 2-5.1a (page 42).  The officials shall use the monitor to assess the situation when a fight is declared.  Rationale.  Officials are currently allowed to use the monitor, but this will require review of a fight situation to ensure that all unsportsmanlike behavior is addressed.

Back Panel of Uniform.  Rule 3-5.1 (page 69).  When a back shoulder panel is used, it shall extend no more than 3 inches from the shoulder seam and may be arched or horizontal.  Rationale:  This allows another area for creativity in uniform designs without affecting the visibility of the number.

Uniform Patches.  Rule 3-5.7 (page 70).  Any commemorative/memorial patches worn on the uniform shall be a maximum of 2 ¼ inches.  Rationale:  No size restrictions currently exist.

Uniform Patch Placement.  Rule 3-5.7 (page 70).  A single commemorative/memorial patch, flag, institutional or conference logo or mascot may be worn at the center of the neckline or apex on the back of the game jersey.  Rationale:  No patch, flag or logo is currently allowed on this area.

Hair Control Devices.  Rule 3-5.15 (page 72).  Any item that goes around the head, including headbands or hair control devices, shall be of a single solid color, no more than 2 inches wide with only one institutional or manufacturer’s logo and the dominant color of the game jersey or white, black or beige (women only).  Hard items including but not limited to barrettes, beads and bobby pins are prohibited.  Rationale:  This make hair control devices consistent with the headband rule and adds beige and black as possible colors.

Throw-In Ends.  Rule 4-65.5 (page 102).  A throw-in shall end when a passed ball is touched inbounds or out-of-bounds by another player on the playing court, before going out-of-bounds.  Rationale:  This makes the end of the throw-in consistent.

Men Only:

Three-Point Line.  Rule 1-7 (page 29).  Effective for the 2008-09 season, the three-point line distance be changed to 20 feet, 9 inches.  Rationale:  This will allow for better court spacing and open up the lane for a free-flowing game.

Free-Throw Alignment.  Rule 8-1.4 (page 248).  To eliminate the first lane space nearest the basket on each side of the lane and using the present second, third and fourth space on each side of the lane as an alignment for free throws.  Rationale:  The players will be further from the basket during a free throw and will help eliminate the defensive player from ending up under the basket.

Courtside Monitor.  Rule 2-5.1 (page 42).  The officials may use the courtside television monitor, when available, to determine whether or not a flagrant foul occurred.  Rationale:  The official is not allowed to go to the monitor for a flagrant foul now if the situation has been deemed a fight.

Table Mechanic.  The calling official shall report the infraction and move opposite the bench.  Rationale:  This was the previous protocol.

Women Only:

Delay of Game.  Rule 9-5.4 (page 157).  If an opponent of the thrower-in has any part of her person over the inside place of the sideline or endline, a delay of game warning followed by an indirect technical foul will be assessed.  Rationale:  Currently, this is a violation.  The loss of possession for a violation is ineffective because the other team already has possession of the ball.

Fouls and Penalties.  Rule 10 (page 156).  The rule regarding fouls and penalties (Rule 10) will be reorganized into four areas:  personal fouls, administrative technical fouls, player/substitute technical fouls and bench personnel technical fouls; with the proper penalty to immediately follow.  The rule will also be changed to consistently count technical fouls toward the categories of team-foul count, the five fouls toward disqualification and the two fouls toward ejection.  Rationale:  This will make the rule consistent. 

Legal Guarding Position.  The officiating guideline that made it an illegal guarding position when a defensive player’s head is under the cylinder and a dribbler becomes an airborne player has been revoked.  Rationale:  This will make the legal guarding position rule the same for the entire court.

Significant Editorial Changes:

Play-By-Play.  Rule 2-14 (page 59).  Allow the use of the play-by-play to correct a scoring or book-keeping mistake.

Digital Stopwatch.  Rule 2-13.7 (page 58).  A digital stopwatch shall be available at the scorer’s table.  Rationale:  A stopwatch is required.  This will specify that it shall be digital. 

Double Technical Foul.  Rule 7-4.1.i (page 131).  Add a double technical foul to the list of situations after which the ball shall be awarded out of bounds.

Indirect Technical Foul.  Rule 10-2.16 (page 160).  An indirect technical foul will be assessed for placing a hand(s) on the backboard or ring to gain an advantage. 

Case Book.  A case book separate from the rules book will be created for collegiate basketball.  The publication is expected to be issued in September.

Men’s Points of Emphasis:

Charge/block – particularly near the goal
Coach’s behavior and enforcement of the box
Rough post play
Palming

Women’s Point of Emphasis:

Displacement
Traveling
Unsportsmanlike Behavior
Legal Guarding Position

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.

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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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