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 Newsletter - Archive - Issue 9, October 1, 2000

Issue 9, October 1, 2000
Welcome to the MACBOA Newsletter

The MACBOA Newsletter is a periodic (twice a month during October through March and monthly there after) 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.

Online subscriptions to MACBOA Newsletter are free and currently there are over 100 subscribers to the MACBOA Newsletter throughout the country. The MACBOA Newsletter is made possible by the kind support of our sponsors. I thank our sponsors for making the newsletter possible. Please visit our web site at http://macboa.org. As always, please visit our sponsors and thank them for keeping MACBOA operational.

Donnee L. Gray, Supervisor of Officials
dgray@macboa.org

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Big News for MACBOA. For the 2000-2001 season, along with the other Division II institutions already serviced, MACBOA is pleased to announce that we will also service all of the Maryland Junior College (JUCO) Athletic Conference composed of eighteen (18) state community colleges competing in intercollegiate athletics in the sport of men's and women's basketball. MACBOA will also continue to service Division II institutions (Columbia Union College and The University of the District of Columbia) and Potomac State College in West Virginia and Carroll Community College.

 

In this issue:

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MACBOA wishes to thank everyone who attended the MACBOA Rules Clinic at PGCC on September 17, 2000. For those who were unable to attend, the following is an overview of what was discussed:

Brian Farrell, President of Maryland JUCO Conference and AD at Catonsville Community College addressed the officials and AD's and Coaches in attendance. Each official is directed to enforce the Sportsmanship Policy of Maryland JUCO Conference.

Donnee Gray, Supervisor of Officials discussed the following items:

Liability Insurance: It is imperative that each MACBOA official has sports liability insurance on file at the MACBOA office. No official will be allowed to officiate a MACBOA assignment without this coverage.

Closed Dates: For personal days that you cannot work, officials are asked to place an "X." For business/work days you may not work, officials are asked to place a "W" on the appropriate closed date. And to place the appropriate conference/league abbreviation on the closed date sheet as appropriate (Big East=BE, Colonial=CAA, CIAA, etc.)

Pictures: MACBOA's goal is to have each official's name and picture on the website. Officials are required to send a headshot (passport size) photograph. MACBOA provided an opportunity for officials to have their pictures taken or to retake their photographs at the close of the clinic. MACBOA wants to thank Larry Levin who provided his photography services after the MACBOA clinic to members needing to have pictures taken. Those who have not sent your picture as of 9/25/00 will be fined (per your contract). The money will go to the Tommie Scott Scholarship Fund. You had 2 years to take care of this. Take Care of Business (TCB) on administrative matters!

E-mail/Website: As stated in the contract, officials are required to visit the MACBOA website twice a month. Officials are required to keep the MACBOA office updated of any changes in their address, phone or email information.

Dismissal from MACBOA: Per the Supervisor of Officials, if you curse a coach, if you state to a Coach, "sit down and shut up!" if you turn back a MACBOA assignment for a HS game, if you lie or gossip, if you are late twice to assignments, and if you miss a game assignment. These are grounds for immediate dismissal from the MACBOA staff.

Ejections: MD Juco Conference has a 3 games suspension rule for fighting. As in any atypical situation, the officials must discuss the situation before a final ruling. Crews must distinguish between a flagrant vs. a fighting foul.

Team Uniforms: Because of budget considerations, no technical shall be given for teams that do not conform to the NCAA uniform rule (i.e., burgundy shorts with white shirts). The Crew Chief will notate the uniform situation in the game report.

Coaching Box: Officials should be conscious about severe coaching box infractions and address this issue with specific emphasis of travesty of the game or abuse of officials in mind. If the Coach is 1 step to 3 feet outside the coaching box calling out instructions out, then do NOT assess a technical foul. If a coach is one step out of the coaching box or in the coaching box and not abiding by the bench decorum rule then it is a technical foul.

Roughness: Because of the emphasis on controlling roughness, officials will call fouls and not talk players out of fouls. Remember that two (hands, forearms, legs) of anything is a foul and must be called.

Required On-Line Test: Officials will be required to access the MACBOA.ORG website and take a rules test to be eligible to receive a game assignment from the Supervisor of Officials. Access www.macboa.org and click on "Forms". A survey of the tests received illustrates that individuals do not read. The very first line of the test required officials to "Cite the Rule". Again, TCB on administrative matters!

Forms: Health Certifications/Physicals, test answers, proof of liability insurance and contract info must be submitted to the MACBOA office before an official may be eligible for an assignment. It has always been the Supervisor of Officials practice that if MACBOA accepts your fees, that an official would receive an assignment. Please be advised that there are no exceptions to this requirement. Again, TCB on administrative matters!

Evaluations: Are composed of evaluation by the Supervisor of Officials, MACBOA Observers, Coaches, Clinic Attendance, the Crew Chief in assignments, videotape and taking care of administrative matters, are all essential components in the evaluation process of officials.

Game Cancellations: Colleges are requested to inform the Supervisor of Officials of any cancellations by 12 pm of the day of the game. If this is not possible, colleges will be responsible for payment of officials. Officials are encouraged to have cell phones or another number where MACBOA administration may reach you in the event of a game cancellation.

Crew Chief: Must contact crewmembers, may also contact college to confirm game time. As a Crew Chief, you must provide a thorough Pregame as well as meaningful feedback during the post game. Be honest and constructive. Game Reports are due are to be mailed after each game. If you have consecutive games and there are no problem areas to be addressed, then you may mail the game reports after the last game. Game Reports submitted by a Crew Chief must be factual. This includes reporting on school facilities. Documentation must be legible!

Arrival at the Game: Officials must be at the game site, and have notified game administration of their arrival, and in the locker room for their assigned game by: M-F: 1 hr and 15 minutes or on weekends: 1 hr and 30 minutes before game time.

Miscellaneous: If you or another official wishes to observe a pre-game conference, you must contact the Supervisor of Officials beforehand for approval.

Emergency Procedures: will be updated and available on the MACBOA website shortly.

Payments: MACBOA will continue to strive to provide timely payments to officials by April 2001.

BOA: A committee will be formed to initiate a Basketball Officials Association. Members include Rick Rosen, Ruben Judka, Mike Mebane, Lionel Butler, Theresa Eckard, and Rochelle Sumner with Reggie Greenwood coordinating the effort.

Rules/Mechanics Changes: Reggie Greenwood and Ike Relacion presented Men's and Women's Rule Changes, Points of Emphasis, and Mechanics Changes respectively. Eliminating rough play was emphasized by Reggie and Donnee as a Men's point of emphasis for the 2000-01 season. While the Women's point of emphasis Hand Checking and Post Play as well as the upcoming 3-person women's mechanics changes were introduced. Call fouls, the players and coaches will adjust!

Ike reported that although no specific language has been set, the rules committee is moving toward the following: on a double technical foul, the ball will be put back in play at the point of interruption, we will not go to the arrow. This would entail a rule change. The double personal foul rule was changed in 1998-99. The rules committee will have to make a decision about this in May of 2001.

Clinic Attendance: Several officials signed-in, but left early without clearance from the Supervisor of Officials. Again, TCB on administrative matters!

Sponsors: MACBOA wishes to thank our sponsors, Officials Choice, Montrose Physical Therapy, Griffin Printing and Embroidery, Henry's Soul Food Café, Waugh Enterprises, and Deep Creek Pharmacy, for their representation at the Clinic.

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MACBOA Interview: Brian Farrell, Director of Athletics, Camps and Special Programs, CCBC Catonsville; Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference President.

MACBOA is pleased to have the opportunity to visit with Brian Farrell, Director of Athletics, Camps and Special Programs, CCBC Catonsville; Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference President

MACBOA: What attracted you to a career in athletic administration?
BF: Dedicated athletic professionals who gave of themselves to serve me, a supportive mom and dad, and an employer, CCBC Catonsville that believed in me.

MACBOA: Please give a brief summary of mission and values what the Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference is all about?
BF: Our mission is to operate a premiere junior college conference through which member institutions can achieve the highest standards of academic integrity, fiscal responsibility, sportsmanship, equity and fairness, student athlete welfare, rules compliance, and competitive success in their athletic programs.

MACBOA: Please give a brief summary of the mission and values of Catonsville Community College?
BF: To provide intercollegiate participation opportunities that maximize the academic and athletic development of the student athlete. At the Maryland community college level, this mission inherently demands a commitment to student athlete academic advisement, sportsmanship, fund and scholarship development, effective facility management, and staff professional development.

MACBOA: Please comment on the coaches and staff you employ?
BF: They are among the most dedicated professionals I know. It is refreshing for see part time coaches who take pride in their work and go the extra mile despite the shortcoming of our pay scales. The support staff at CCBC Catonsville is second to none in their support of coaches and student athletes.

MACBOA: What are your thoughts on athletics today?
BF: Done right, intercollegiate athletics remain a great profession and a great opportunity for student-athletes. With part time coaches, dwindling resources and the challenging backgrounds of our student- athletes, we just need to rededicate ourselves to the total development of the student-athletes

MACBOA: What improvements need to be addressed in athletics today?
BF: At the junior college level, we need to continually work on academic advisement, sportsmanship, increased funding, and staff development for our coaches.

MACBOA: What is your vision for Maryland JUCO?
BF: To develop a mindset where student athletes, coaches, athletic
administrators, officials, and the community, feel they are in it together when it comes to the Maryland JUCO. When we fully realize that truly working together makes us better both collectively as a conference and individually as institutions, our potential to become a model conference will unfold.

I'd also be pleased if each person connected with the conference, at the end of each work day, were to target one small thing to improve the conference.

MACBOA: What is Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference's stance on unsporting conduct by student-athletes?
BF: Simply put, the Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference has zero tolerance for unsporting conduct by any student athlete.

MACBOA: If basketball officials don't act on unsporting actions during a contest, and the actions are travesty to Maryland JUCO, what action does Maryland JUCO take?
BF: The Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference will address all unsporting conduct in addition to any action or inaction by any of its official's organization.

MACBOA: What areas need change in order to assist the student-athlete today?
BF: Most importantly, we need to find additional resources and staff to provide academic, scholarship, and life skills support to our student athletes.

MACBOA: What would you tell a young child aspiring for a chance to play intercollegiate athletics?
BF: Look for a coach or mentor committed to your total athletic, social, and academic development. You may not always here what you like, but you will be better prepared for a professional and personal contribution to society for such an association.

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Hometown:
Catonsville, Md. 21228

Occupation:
CCBC Catonsville Director of Athletics since 1993
Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference President since 1996 (volunteer position)

Professional Associations/Membership:
Maryland JUCO Advisory Council Chairperson, 1996-present
Maryland JUCO Standard/Ethics Committee Chairperson, 1996 - present
NACDA Executive Committee Member 1997-2000
NATYCAA Executive Committee Member 1997-2000
NJCAA Region XX Men's Lacrosse Chairperson 1999 - present
NJCAA Region XX Bowling Committee Chairperson 1996-2000
NJCAA Region XX Standard and Ethics Committee 1996- present

Awards:
NJCAA Academic All-American, 1985
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Scholar Athlete, 1987

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Stumper Question (Contributed by Reggie Greenwood): You must state the rule.

First two winners receive 2 Fox-40 Classic Whistles.

During the first of 2 free throws by A1, with the ball still in A1's hands, but as the player's trying motion has started, B1 pushes A2. Team A is in the bonus (1+1). The whistle blows and the ball is released. The official allows the basket and gives A1 the second shot with no players on the free throw line. The official awards A2 a one and one. Is the Official correct?

Please send your answer to macboa1@aol.com. To be considered you must answer the question in its entirety. Remember to take care of business on administrative matters! The first 2 individuals to correctly answer will be named in the next newsletter.

It was very close. The correct respondents were minutes apart in answering the question. Winners from last issue's Stumper Question: Can you have Basket Interference (B/I) on a throw-in? Yes, you may have B/I on a throw-in. It does not matter how the live ball got there. Two points--not really an attempt with a baseline-and the thrower-in may run the endline.

Bill Thompson
Bob Haak
Tricia Maltagliati
Chuck Dorsey

Each will receive the newly developed Break-Away Lanyard developed by Fox-40.

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2000-2001 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Rules & Interpretations and CCA Mechanics Manuals
You may order your 2000-2001 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Rules & Interpretations from the NCAA at (888) 388-9748.

You may order your 2000-2001 CCA Mechanics Manuals at (214) 750-7522 x213.

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E-mail Etiquette (Ike Relacion)
Here are some key e-mail etiquette points to remember:

Choose a subject line that makes sense and is specific.
Remember that your recipient may get many e-mails during a day, and he or she is more likely to open one that says "Play Scenario in Game last Night," rather than "Important," or just "Game."

Don't use all caps
On the Internet all caps is considered the equivalent of shouting, and highly frowned upon. (All caps are also much harder to read!) All caps can be used occasionally for emphasis, but other options are to place asterisks or underlines before and after the word you wish to emphasize.

Double check spelling and grammar
Most e-mail programs don't have a spell checker, so it's imperative that you do a thorough check. With e-mail you're judged by your onscreen appearance, especially if you're corresponding with someone you've never met. Basic spelling and grammatical errors give the impression that the writer is either lazy or lacking in intelligence.

Don't forget formality
Because of its immediate nature, many people forget that in a business setting e-mail is indeed as formal a means of communication as paper memos and letters. Don't go overboard by addressing someone you're on a first-name basis with as "Mr." or "Ms.," but don't embarrass yourself by being overly casual, either.

Don't respond in haste
In Internet lingo, angry messages and replies are known as "flames," and the name is very appropriate since these messages can, and usually do, burn you. Think carefully about what you want to say, especially if it's a reply to a message that made you angry or upset. Don't reply until you've calmed down and are thinking rationally, not emotionally--once the message is sent, you can't get it back. Don't ever be afraid to rewrite!

Keep it brief
Say what you want to say as briefly as possible; ideally keep text to one screen so the reader doesn't have to scroll. But if you must send a longer message, make it more readable by using short sentences and paragraphs. It is okay to respond to an e-mail request with one word, e.g. "Done."

Watch your tone; Emoticons
Unless someone knows you very well, it's hard to convey the nuances of mood and tone in e-mail. Is someone really angry or just kidding? Meanings can get lost, so be clear and be careful. One way around this problem is to use "emoticons" symbols that convey expressions. Again remember who you're writing to and if using an emoticon is appropriate. (Be warned that some people absolutely hate the little buggers.)

Quote the original message
If you're replying to someone, you should always quote at least part of the original message so the person you're e-mailing remembers what it is you're referring to. Using the reply function on most e-mail programs usually means the original message will automatically be quoted.

Last, but not least, remember that e-mail is public information
I'm not going to get into the many legal issues surrounding employees' use of a company's e-mail. But the fact is that you should consider e-mail to be public, not private, information. When you send or receive an e-mail, often a record of it remains--even if you delete a message from your personal mailbox. And not to make anyone overly paranoid, but it's a fact that in some states e-mail messages have been used as evidence in lawsuits. Don't include anything that could be considered offensive, libelous or against your company policies.

That's a lot to digest and try to commit to memory, but there is a very quick and easy summary of all these rules. If you use your common sense and follow the golden rule of "do unto others," you should be an e-mail pro in no time.

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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 list

Please respond directly by e-mail to: dgray@macboa.org

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Member News

Tommie Scott wishes to thank the many individuals that attended his Retirement Farewell from basketball at Andrews Air Force Base on September 22, 2000. With over three decades of officiating experience, which includes being selected to officiate the NCAA Sweet-16, National Invitational Tournament (NIT), numerous Conference and League post-season tournaments as well as tournaments aboard, the officiating world has lost a wonderful human being to retirement.

Congratulations to several MACBOA men and women officials who have been selected to be on staff of several Division I conferences for the 2000-2001 season. Keep up the great work and make MACBOA proud!

Please send in your personal stories, experiences or questions; other readers can reply to you via this newsletter or directly (provide your contact information). Contributions should be sent as e-mail; attachments to e-mail will not be accepted. Please take the time to reply if you can help someone.

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To cancel your subscription to MACBOA Newsletter, reply to this e-mail with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject Line.

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MACBOA Newsletter Information

The 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.

Neither 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.

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F E E D B A C K: I am eager to hear what you think of this MACBOA newsletter. E-mail me at macboa1@aol.com

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

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