IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Bd 10.COMmuniqué A Matter of Perspective The 2012-13 high school basketball season is in our rear view mirror... Also this issue... • Mother Natures strikes again ...with the exception of the CIAC state tournament finals • Hanging up the whistle to be played shortly. It’s been • Conference finals action • Update from the State an exciting and eventful year • A thriller at Wilby on and off the court. But there’s no question that a pall • Board 10’s spirit of giving hung over the season – over • News & Notes everyone in the state for that • President’s Message matter – because of the tragic • Commissioner’s shootings on December 14th, Commentary 2012 at the Sandy Hook The Doctor is In • Elementary School in New• Member Profile: Kevin Moffett town, CT where 20 children and 6 adults were killed. That was just a week into • Knowledge Bank our season, and many of us took to the • Ask the Interpreter: Ruling on the unusual court with heavy hearts. We wore green Click any headline to go to the swatches on our striped shirts to honor article the victims and their families. Such tragedies have a way of putting things in perspective and motivating us to focus more on that which is most important in our lives, while hopefully putting the trivia and minutia of our day to day experiences far down on our list of personal and professional priorities. We have an essay on that very subject in this issue’s President’s Message. One positive byproduct of what happened in Newtown is that our board generated a new spirit of giving and amped up our volunteer efforts to help people in need. (cont. on p. 2)
Your new slate of officers for the 2013-14 season On Sunday, February 3rd, 2013, the general membership of Board 10 gathered for our annual meeting. At that session, the Executive Committee put forth a slate of nominees for leadership positions, and the members ratified these nominations. President: Steve Kirck II Interpreter: Jeffrey Smith 1st Vice President: Al Carfora Assistant Interpreters: 2nd Vice President: Judy Ruthko Mark Federico, Ray Vanacore, Secretary/Treasurer: Hank Luzzi Steve Kirck II (cont. on p. 2) !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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A Matter of Perspective... (cont. from p.1) We raised more money for Officials vs. Cancer than in the past. We participated in the New Haven football officials’ fundraiser dance, and we created a new Board 10 fundraiser to support our own colleagues who need assistance. We turned out in droves and will continue doing so this month to officiate at Special Olympics CT and Unified Games tournaments throughout our coverage area. We have reports on all these public service efforts in this newsletter. Our thanks to all of you who have given freely of your time and pocketbooks to help others throughout the season. While there was much happening off the court, there was plenty of exciting action on the court during the regular season and that portion of the post-season which has been completed as of this writing. One particular regular season game in Waterbury was written about in that city’s press in a way that was highly complimentary of the officiating crew – something you rarely see in the media. We have, with the paper’s permission, reprinted portions of their article in this issue of Bd 10.COMmuniqué. We also have a lot of news you can use. We hope you take the time to read what’s contained in this latest issue and save that which will help you prepare for next season.
Your new slate of officers for the 2013-14 season ... (cont. from p.1) State Board Delegates: Ken Devoe, Ray Vanacore, Buddy Chernovetz, Hank Luzzi (State Board Secretary/Treasurer). District Representatives: District 1 (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Middlebury, Milford, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Woodbury): Len Crone District 2 (Bethany, Cheshire, Hamden, New Haven, Orange, West Haven, Woodbridge): Dan Davis District 3 (Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Madison, North Branford, Northford, Clinton): Lou Matteo District 4 (Meriden, North Haven, Wallingford): Frank Savakis District 5 (Naugatuck, Waterbury, Wolcott): Jose DosSantos
Commissioner fee assessment reduced Also ratified at our Board 10 annual meeting was a 1 percent reduction in the fees we pay toward the Commissioner’s stipend. The new assessment will be 7 percent of our game fees for the season, down from the previous 8 percent. Due to the state and structure of our finances, we are able to ease the financial burden on each official, while keeping the Commissioner’s stipend the same. When the books are closed on the 2012-13 season, you will be notified as to the amount you owe. An invoice for the assessment will be available to you on Arbiter. Be sure to log in, and view and print your invoice for reference. Your fee is due within 30 days of notification. Late payments will result in a doubling of the fee. !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Dues payments should have been paid Your Board 10 dues payment of $111 came due on February 1, 2013 and is payable by March 15, 2013. Payments after March 15th will carry a $20 penalty, for a total of $131.00. After April 1, an additional $20 penalty is tacked for a total of $151.00. After April 15, 2013, your dues payment will be doubled to $222.00. Anyone not having paid by April 15, 2013 will be terminated from membership and not reinstated until and unless the $222.00 is paid. NOTE: Make your checks for the Commissioner fee and your Board 10 dues payable to Board 10, and mail them to Hank Luzzi, 434 Thompson Avenue, East Haven, CT 06512.
Mother Nature strikes again If you thought Hurricane Sandy was bad, the Blizzard of 2013 may have been worse. Taking nothing away from the people who lost their homes up and down the eastern seaboard during Sandy, Connecticut got hit perhaps hardest of all by the blizzard. Cities and towns including New Haven, Milford and Guilford received more than 30 inches of snow. Hamden received 40 inches, the most in the state. Governor Malloy declared a state of emergency and closed down all the roads statewide. It took from 3 to 5 days or more for roads to be cleared enough to be considered barely passable. Many compared the Blizzard of 2013 with that of 1978. The consensus seems to be that 2013 was worse, at least judging by snowfall and wind gust statistics. But remember, in 1978, we didn’t have the sophisticated computer models and communications systems we have today to track the approach of a storm and its progress once it hits Connecticut. There was little or no advance warning of the storm in 1978. Consequently an inordinate number of people were stranded on the roads and highways in ‘78. Fortunately, this time around, we had plenty of advance notice. The roads were cleared of traffic. Businesses and schools closed and for the most part people had the opportunity to get home and ride out the storm. Of course, our basketball schedules took a beating, as several days’ worth of games had to be postponed and rescheduled, if not cancelled altogether. Herculean efforts by our Commissioner to do the rescheduling were accompanied by conscientious efforts by all our members to cover the games on their new days and times. The high schools got their games in, in time to complete their schedules and meet tournament deadlines. Thanks to all for helping one another get past this critical weather event. Moral of the story: Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security if next winter starts out as mildly as this past winter did.
Board 10 Banquet Tuesday, March 19th -- Save the date Our annual banquet/awards dinner will be held Tuesday, March 19th at the Country House Restaurant, 990 Foxon Road (Rt 80) in East Haven. Cocktail hour from 6 to 7 PM followed by dinner. You must RSVP to Hank Luzzi to reserve your dinner. Try to attend. It’s a guaranteed good time for all.
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Member-to-Member Mart
Café Amici offers the finest dining – everything from amazing appetizers, savory soups and salads to timeless classics everyone will enjoy. Our menu includes only hand-selected premium quality poultry and the freshest seafood, simply and perfectly prepared as you prefer, accompanied by our traditional homemade pastas. Café Amici is also a great place to hold your special occasions – showers, rehearsal dinners, cocktail parties, and corporate events. We’ll also cater your event off-premise at the site of your choice. Café Amici is open 7 days a week beginning at 4 PM daily. Special offer: Present your IAABO or CIAC card when seated and get 10% off your bill. Café Amici. 1670 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, near St. Rita’s Church. 203 848-1682. cafeamici@gmail.com. Ed Bruce, partner.
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Hanging up the whistle and passing the torch Two of our most venerable veteran officials – Steve Kirck and Pat Paulson -- are calling it a career at the end of the 2012-13 high school basketball season, after 40 and 31 years on the court respectively. It was most likely a difficult decision to no longer continue doing something they both love, and doing it so well for so long, but both felt this was the right time. Steve worked his final regular season high school game with his son, Steve II, accompanied by Bill Murphy as the third person on the crew. The game was at Wilby, where the host athletic director, Steve Baldwin, introduced Steve Kirck to the crowd after the senior night presentations were completed. Wilby’s captain presented Steve with the game ball at the center circle. The entire Kirck family were in attendance, including Steve’s wife, his 93 year old mom, his other son Jason, his daughters-in-law and all the grandkids. Steve wrote the following to Wilby’s athletic director: “Personally, and on behalf of my entire family and Board #10, I want to express to you my sincere appreciation for the pre-game presentation of the game ball for my last regular season basketball game on Wednesday night. To say I was surprised and honored would be an understatement. Overwhelmed is more appropriate. Your kind gesture is indicative of the treatment received by Board 10 officials when we come to Wilby to work a game and I thank you, not only on behalf of myself and Bill Murphy and my son, but all members of Board 10. You certainly made my final regular season game most memorable.” Steve Kirck II said this about working with his dad: “I love working with all Board 10 officials, but suffice it to say it is always a special night when I am driving to the gym knowing I am working with my father. I learned from him at a young age that you have to trust your partner to make it in this avocation and if you can't trust your dad then who can you trust in this game we love. I will always treasure the games and more importantly the time we spent reffing together. Fathers and sons always have a special bond but to share our passion for the game of basketball and to go into "battle" with him will always be my favorite referee moments.” Pat Paulson worked his last regular season game – Guilford at Platt Tech – with his son, Pat, Jr. Fittingly, Pat Sr.’s last game was also his son’s first varsity game. Talk about passing the torch. Platt athletic director Sue Murphy introduced Pat to the crowd and presented him with the game ball. Pat’s wife, Kathy, attended the game along with a number of her friends from work (work being the FBI). For more details about Steve and Pat, we suggest you read the very fine article in the Monday, March 4th edition of the New Haven Register, written by Schools Sports Editor Joe Morelli. You can find it online at: www.nhregister.com
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Conference finals action
Photos by Bi! O’Brien
Spectators at the TD Bank Sports Center at Quinnipiac University in Hamden were treated to some outstanding basketball and equally outstanding officiating for the finals of the 2012-13 SCC Conference Tournament. The girls final on February 19th saw two perennial powers, Mercy and Career, go at it. Career defeated Mercy 48 to 35. Mike Blake, Steve Cain, and Bill Murphy officiated. The boys final on February 26th featured #1 Hillhouse vs. #2 Fairfield Prep. Hillhouse avenged an earlier season loss to the Jesuits and defeated Prep 53-47 in overtime. Rick McInnis, Steve Kirck II and Gary Aurio were the crew for the game. The only other conference final covered by Board 10 was the NVL boys final. The game was a rematch of a most exciting regular season contest between Crosby and Wilby, which was decided by a buzzer beater in double overtime. We have reprinted the local paper’s coverage of that game elsewhere in this newsletter. As for the conference final itself, Crosby defeated Wilby 58-56 in regulation time. Our crew of Brad Chernovetz, Dave Scasino and Bill Murphy handled the their duties in fine fashion. Congratulations to the conference champions, finalists and officiating crews.
Update from the State Free admission to the CIAC state tournament finals As in the past, your CIAC Officials’ Association membership card will enable you to attend the CIAC state tournament finals at Mohegan Sun for free. This only applies to basketball officials. The finals will be played in three separate sessions on Friday and Saturday, March 15th and 16th. You you must present your CIAC card at the WILL CALL window along with a photo ID to receive your free ticket for one session at a time only. You must do the same for each subsequent session. Social Media Usage Guidelines for Officials The board leaders who were present at the CIAC Officials Association statewide meeting on June 14, 2012 heard Matt Fischer, CIAC Director of Information Services, address the use of social media in order to raise awareness and to encourage you to educate and caution officials in this regard. Inappropriate Facebook posts, tweets, etc. can prove to be detrimental to the reputation of the official and other parties and could be viewed by local boards as conduct unbecoming an official. It was an enlightening discussion that resulted in the attendees requesting from the CIAC additional educational information on this important topic. In response to the request, CIAC is providing this information for you to consider and utilize as you see fit. (continued on p. 9) !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Member-to-Member Mart
Notre Dame High School of West Haven is still accepting applications for next year's freshmen class of 2017. Â Transfer students to other grades also welcome. For more information, visit http://www.notredamehs.com/admissions or contact Admissions Director Mr. Lino Izzo '00 at admissions@notredamehs.com or 203-933-1673. You can also visit Notre Dame's online home to view games and other school events at www.gogreenknights.com.
Carpet Sales & Expert Installation T.R. Carpet Service Tom Raucci, owner (203) 934-7614 or (203) 494-1115. $50 off any room of carpet for Bd 10 members
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Member-to-Member Mart
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Update from the state ... (cont. from p.6) With the increased use of social networking through the internet and via cell phone, it is important for officials to understand the importance of maintaining professionalism and adhering to the NFHS Officials Code of Ethics regarding the social media. In part, the NFHS Code states, “Officials shall maintain an ethical approach while participating in forums, chat rooms and all forms of social media.” Although social networking sites can be wonderful communications tools, there can be unintended consequences if they are used improperly. Officials, because of their unique standing, need to be particularly careful when using those sites. Accountability and integrity should always be our guiding principles. Jeopardizing your impartiality or professionalism should never be a part of your actions or posts. The following information is from resources such as, but not limited to, the NFHS Officials Code of Ethics, Referee Magazine, other periodicals, discussions with colleagues around the country and some suggested guidelines developed by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). It is our hope that this information will help you with your decisions and involvement with social media. NOTE: These are suggestions only and not policy. • DO be aware that posts on social media are visible to the general public. Even if you limit access to your page to friends, it is likely that your post will be viewed by someone beyond the circle of people you intended to see it. • DO find out your association or league expectations regarding social media. Your association may not have hard and fast rules, but find out if it has an unofficial policy. • DO think twice before you post. If there is anything in your post that could be construed as a criticism of officials, of officials' decisions, or of schools, coaches or athletes, it is better left unsent. • DO assume that your post will be seen by the two teams you will see in your next game and the teams you worked in your previous game as well as your partner(s) in those games. • DON'T post anything relating to the schools you have worked or will work. It calls your objectivity into question. • DON'T include anything in a post that makes reference to an upcoming assignment. If teams want to find out who is going to be working their game, they should do so through official channels, not your tweet. DON'T post details about other people's regular season or playoff assignments. Don't use your page as a news service. • DON'T use social media to criticize state or local association policies, assigning practices, etc. • DON'T make posts regarding calls made by officials in other games, whatever the level. You and your buddies might debate the call you saw on TV, but debating the call on Facebook, Twitter or other forums and social media is a no-no. • DON’T “friend,” “follow” or otherwise interact with student-athletes in any social media forum. Regardless of the intentions, it is risky and unwise for an official to communicate with student athletes, since it could call into question your objectivity or motives. Additionally, to malign or openly criticize another official in any form of electronic communication is considered not only unprofessional, but also undermines sports officiating in general. It is also unprofessional for officials to offer rules clarifications or interpretations through these media without the expressed directive from their respective boards or the state high school association. EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks for CIAC Officials’ Association director Joe Tonelli for providing the information and much of the text for this article.
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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A thriller at Wilby EDITOR’S NOTE: On January 14th of this year, spectators were treated to a dramatic, hotly contested boys basketball game between Crosby and Wilby at Wilby. Wilby prevailed in double overtime, needing one buzzer beater to send the game into OT and another to gain the victory. The following is a portion of the article on the game from the Republican-American, written by sports reporter Joe Palladino and reprinted here with the newspaper’s permission. Most notable about the reporting was the positive commentary on the officiating. Photos are courtesy of James Garman, SportsPageMagazine.com
Area basketball fans, or at least those smart enough to be in Wilby's Reggie O'Brien Gymnasium on Monday night — official attendance is now pegged at close to 1,100 — saw a game we will talk about as long as we watch high school hoops in this city. Wilby defeated Crosby in double OT, 83-82, with two stunning, buzzer-beating 3-point baskets, two instances where fans rushed the court, two critical officiating decisions that were spot-on correct and one career-defining performance. In other words, it was your typical evening in a city gym. To recap: Wilby rallied from an eight-point deficit with 90 seconds to play to tie the game on a desperation 3-pointer by the unlikeliest of heroes, Stanley Foote. Then, at the end of the second overtime, an unusual Crosby turnover handed one final possession to Wilby with 2.3 seconds on the clock. This set up high-drama moment No. 2 as Walter Wright hit on a 3-point heave as the buzzer sounded for the breath-taking victory. For Wright, they were points Nos. 40, 41 and 42. OK, that sums up the big news. Now let us hit upon a few highlights that we omitted the morning after: In the final minute of the fourth quarter, every person in the O'Brien gymnasium got up on their feet and never sat down again. They stood through the final minutes of regulation and through two dramatic overtime periods. The building was buzzing. And when the fans cheered, they cheered for both teams. No one razzed an opposing player or made absurd noises during free throws. In a frantic gymnasium, city hoop fans supported all of the athletes, which made a great night a memorable night. Our three officials, Brad Chernovetz, Jose DosSantos and Mike Blake, called a brilliant game. They correctly read the game's tempo and let the players play. Most importantly, the tweaking of the clock at the end of the second OT was precisely and perfectly done, and that set the stage for the final drama. It was superb work. Visit the Hoop Zone at www.rep-am.com and you will see what I mean about the thrills, the excitement, but most importantly, how the officials handled the game's conclusion. A smart move by Wilby athletic director Steve Baldwin put the Crosby and Wilby unified basketball teams on court at halftime. The kids were thrilled to play in a packed gym, and the crowd gave them several rousing ovations. It was a classy call. Play was sensational overall, but the best came from Walter Wright, who is now in all future conversations about city hoop stars. Yes, the 42 points were impressive, but it was the brilliant assists, the big defense in big moments and the clutch shot-making that put Wright up with the best of the best. !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Member-to-Member Mart
Free 10-Day membership for all IAABO Board 10 Members
Member-to-Member Mart Beautiful Vermont vacation rental home This well-appointed all-season house is located in Wilmington, VT. The house has four bedrooms, a washer and dryer, and an all glass frontal A-Frame. Price negotiable for Board 10 members. Contact Mike Scanlon: (203) 415-4185.
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Member-to-Member Mart Looking for work? Know someone who is? Find fast, effective placement through Best Temps, Inc. Best Temps is Connecticut’s leading provider of temp-topermanent employment in the technical and clerical fields, as well as in light industrial, manufacturing, and IT. Find out where the opportunities are and seize them today. Call John Ramos at Best Temps: (203) 878-7762. Email: JRBESTTEMPS@YAHOO.COM or visit: http://besttemps.com to learn about the following job opportunities and more: CDL a and b drivers/ roll off drivers/ hauling dbristo landfill Assemblers/mechanical/electronic equipment/blue prints House cleaners/commercial cleaning company/residential/commercial Truck mechanic/ repair experience /maintenance of company’s truck fleet/heavy equipment Appliance repair techs / ability to work variable & flexible hours Warehouse/ loader/unloader 3rd shift Admin. Asst. Position/ strong computer skills/ excellent communications skills Maintenance mechanic/ repair/troubleshoot machinery desired Restoration workers/ experience in fire /flood water damage/full time/ top wages/great career start Equipment operators/ must operate excavation equipment. Bull dozers / pay loaders /hand tools Welders/ MIG /stick /aluminim a must Non CDL drivers/ must have delivery experience. Strong customer service Office furniture installers/ must be mechanically inclined, use of hand tools /previous furniture experience a must • Warehouse / plumbing supply/ inventory, loading/unloading/ able to multi-task • Sales reps/telemarketing/ New Haven area/ must be well spoken/ unlimited growth potential • Machine operators/ ability to work on manual machines/BPTS/lathes/ CNC's set up/operate • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Board 10’s spirit of giving shines through This season, Board 10 really stepped up our collective efforts in helping people in need – including our own colleagues – by volunteering our time and efforts as well as contributing financially to a number of worthy causes and events. Football association fundraisers Our sports officiating colleagues from the New Haven Football Officials’ Association held their annual fundraising dance and auction on January 26, 2013 at the West Haven Italian American Club. More than 275 people attended, including a large number from Board 10. The event netted $8,800. The first such event was held 4 years ago after it was learned that our basketball and football officiating colleague, Jim McGuigan, was diagnosed with brain cancer. The event raised money to help him and his family before and after he passed away. Jim’s youngest son will graduate from North Branford High School this year and funds generated from a football association golf tournament will go toward a college scholarship for this fine young man. Other donations from these events have gone to aid the family of the late Jack Hunt, as well as Branford baseball coach George Dumar who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In addition, funds have been donated to Tommy Raucci to help him manage his wife’s illness, and to the family of the late Doug Chernovetz. Event chairman Bill Schule, along with organizers Kevin Moffett and Ralph Zingarella, thank all Board 10 members who contributed to these fundraisers. Officials vs. Cancer Board 10 members contributed a total of $3,970.00 to this season’s Officials vs. Cancer campaign. That is the most money our board has ever raised, even though only 53% of our members contributed. Imagine what we could do if we had 100% participation. Let’s make that a goal for next season. Sandy Hook Raffle A raffle organized by Brad Chernovetz to benefit the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook School shooting raised $1250.00. The grand prize winner was our own Joe Mrozowski. Joe won two prime-seating tickets for the March 18th NBA game in Boston featuring the Celtics vs. the Miami Heat. Joe will also get to meet some Celtics Legends and have his photo taken on the arena floor. Bowling for Dollars SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 30, 2013. That’s the night of Board 10’s first (and hopefully annual) bowling fundraiser to be held at the Milford AMF Bowling Lanes on the Post Road in Milford. The event will run from 6 to 10 PM. Tickets are $25 per person. There will also be silent and live auctions of sports memorabilia and other prizes. It’s a very worthy cause – helping our Board 10 colleagues and families who are in need. Let’s see all of you there. (continued on p. 15)
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Member-to-Member Mart
A medical emergency can happen anywhere, even in a hospital. Should it happen in an environment of medical professionals, can they handle it? What if it happens in a non-clinical area? Do you know proper procedure? If not, learn First Aid and CPR. We offer courses in American Heart Association(AHA) Heartsaver CPR/AED/First Aid, BLS Healthcare Provider, Family and Friends CPR and First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogen, CT State EMT and EMT Refresher Programs, CT EMT Practical and other courses as well. Classes available at your site or at our new location: 16 Main St Suite 203, Durham CT. Phone Lou Brockett at (860) 788-3245 or visit: www.asecondchancecpr.com
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Board 10’s spirit of giving shines through ... (cont. from p. 13) CT Special Olympics and Unified Games Numerous Special Olympics and Unified Games tournaments have taken place or are about to take place throughout our area, including the January 28th event at the Fieldhouse, March 4th at Wilcox Tech, March 13th at Cheshire High School, March 16th at several sites in Waterbury, March 19th at the Fieldhouse, March 21st at Wilby High School and March 25th at East Haven High School. Some of these events will have happened by the time you read this and others are still to come. Thanks to all Board 10 officials who signed up to volunteer their services. Pictured here, volunteer officials for the March 4 Unified Games at Wilcox Tech: (left to right), Trevor Brown, Dan Akier, Roy Haynes, Ken Boisvert, Steve Novak and Ken Devoe. Not pictured, but also part of the volunteer crew: Phil Crosby and Dave Giacondino. This event, a partnership between Special Olympics Connecticut and the CIAC, drew middle school teams from all over the state.
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Smith works Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim’s 900th victory on national TV Jim Boeheim’s 900th career win came on Monday, December 17th, 2012 at Syracuse and became one of the elite Division 1 men’s college basketball coaches in a very exclusive club. Only Boeheim, Bob Knight and Mike Krzysewski have won 900 or more NCAA Division I men’s basketball games. Boeheim is in his 37th season at Syracuse, the only school where he has ever coached. This was also a very special night for our own Jeffrey Smith, who had the distinct honor to referee the game, which was broadcast nationally on ESPN. Third-ranked Syracuse University nearly squandered a 22-point lead, but held on for a 72-68 victory over the University of Detroit in front of 17,902 fans at the Carrier Dome to solidify Jim Boeheim’s place in college basketball history.
2013 CT IAABO Summer Officials School, August 3rd and 4th The second annual CT IAABO Summer Officials’ School will take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th. The school is conducted in conjunction with the University of New Haven Women’s High School Team Camp and will be held at UNH. This school is for CT IAABO male and female basketball officials with less than 5 years of experience. The fee is just $50. Here is what you get for your fee: • Work games with on-court observers • Receive video of your games and constructive feedback from your observers • Classroom discussions • Free T-shirt • Opportunity to meet new CT IAABO officials • Have a ton of fun while improving your game Space is limited to 20 officials per day. Sign up on or before July 1, 2013 – sooner is better! Print this page, clip the application below and mail with a check payable to Central CT Board #6 to: Peter Palermino, 38 Middlefield Drive West Hartford, CT 06107 Name ________________________________________ Street Address ________________________________ City____________________________ Zip code ___________ Board # _____________________ No. of years an IAABO member ____________________ Email address ___________________________________ Cell phone ______________________________________ Emergency contact name & phone number ___________________________________________ PREFERRED DATE (Saturday, Sunday, no preference). Select one. For questions and further information contact the camp co-directors: Peter Palermino at (860) 416-8562 or Charlene Shepard at (860) 538-3779.
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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NEWS & NOTES Aurio named Tap-Off Club official of the year The New Haven Tap-Off Club has selected our own Gary Aurio as the recipient of this year’s Nate Winnick Award as their basketball official of the year. Gary will receive his award at the club’s All Area Team and Scholar Athlete Dinner on Tuesday, April 2nd at the Villa Bianca Restaurant, Route 34, Seymour. Club members can reserve tickets by emailing Bob Antonio at bobanhtoc@yahoo.com or by calling Lee Franzman at (203) 874–2810 after 5:30 PM. If you’re not a member, consider joining. It’s only $10 a year -- the biggest bargain in sports. Ticket reservation requests must be received and paid for by March 22. Make your check payable to The New Haven Tap-Off Club and mail to: Lee Franzman, 115 Rogers Avenue, Milford, CT 06460. Congratulations, Gary.
More postseason recognition Cheryl McCarthy-Chiari was selected to be the alternate official for the 2013 NCAA D-III Women’s Basketball Championship Regionals which were played on March 1st at Amherst College. Before that, on February23rd, Cheryl worked the MASCAC D-III Conference final which pitted Bridgewater State against Westfield State. Congratulations on
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some well deserved recognition from the powers that be. 2nd Annual Chern Memorial Golf Tournament The second annual Chern Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 15th at the Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Massachusetts. The $150 per player entrance fee ($600 for a foursome) includes golf, lunch and dinner. The event is held in memory of the late Doug Chernovetz and all proceeds from the event will go toward a scholarship in Doug’s honor. Last year’s inaugural event saw a great turnout, especially from our colleagues in Connecticut. We hope for more of the same this year. If you wish to apply, make your check payable to The Ranch and mail to: Brad Chernovetz, 3 Jackson Ave, Wallingford, CT 06492 [See the flyer elsewhere in this newsletter for the details]. Travelers Championship needs volunteers It’s time again for the annual Travelers Championship golf tournament. Once again, our Joe Mrozowski is looking for volunteers to be laser operators. Other volunteer opportunities are available as well. Board 10’s Rich Shultz and Tracey Pelella are pictured here working the course at last year’s tournament. [See the details in the flyer posted elsewhere in this newsletter]. You can learn more by calling Joe at 203-213-8794 or emailing JWOODSTER@SBCGLOBAL.NET.
The kids are alright John Ramos’ son, Matt, a recent graduate of Springfield College, has accepted the position of exercise physiologist with a company called A New Road to Fitness. The company is affiliated with St. Vincent’s Medical Center… (continued on p. 18)
IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN News & Notes ... (cont. from p. 17) … A very proud Bill Powers wrote in to recap his son John’s Yale football career. Though missing three games due to injury in 2012, John did start in six games, including the final two in which he played with a broken arm. He made 21 solo tackles and was part of 35 tackles overall. In the 2011 season, John played in all 10 games on defense and special teams. In 2010, he was the Bulldogs’ Special Teams Player of the Year. In his final season, John received the team’s Woody Knapp Award for Leadership.
Wedding bells are ringing once again Hearty congratulations go out to the DiPietro family. Paul DiPietro reports that his daughter Amy Sarah DiPietro married Joseph Devine on October 13, 2012. The bride earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport and is currently a special education teacher in the Stratford school system. Her husband, Joseph, also has a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport and is a behavioral therapist for the Farmington school district. Looks like they have a lot in common. Best wishes to the happy couple.
New grandparents We’re delighted to report that Rich Ogurick is now a first-time grandparent. Rich’s son Matthew and daughter-in-law Christine welcomed Olivia Louise Ogurick into the world on Janu!
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MARCH 2013 ary 24th, 2013. Olivia weighed in at a healthy 9 pounds, 5 ounces. The happy parents and their newborn reside in Coconut Grove, Florida. (As if Rich needs more reasons to take time off to visit sunny Florida).
Highsmith speaks at the U.S. Capitol Our Carl Highsmith participated in Senator Robert P. Casey’s 2013 Annual Black History Month Tribute in Washington, D.C. on February 25th. Following the Senator’s speech, Carl took part in a symposium on this year’s honoree, William (Bill) B. Strickland, Jr., at the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Building. Strickland founded the nationally acclaimed Manchester Bidwell Craftsmen’s Guild and the Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh, PA. These organizations established a model for learning and community development now replicated across America through the National Center for Arts and Technology (NCAT). NCAT facilities support underserved populations and advance economic and social stability in local communities by providing adult career training and youth arts programs. New Havenbased CONNCAT, the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology, is an NCAT affiliate. Highsmith collaborated with the Seedlings Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Yale New Haven Hospital and First Niagara Bank to establish CONNCAT. Carl is currently CONNCAT’s Board Chair and a member of NCAT’s national (continued on p. 19)
IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN News & Notes ... (cont. from p. 18) Board of Directors. Carl talked about the NCAT model and why other communities nationwide seek to, and should, replicate it.
Stepping up for Sandy Hook
Board 10’s David Daniels III (far left) and Darrell Nelson (far right) volunteered their services to officiate at a basketball doubleheader to benefit the Victoria Soto Scholarship Fund. Victoria Soto was one of the teachers who lost her life during the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. The event raised $2,300.00. The event was hosted by radio station Hot 93.7. Speaking of David Daniels, he has formed a new company – the David Daniels III Consulting Group. David offers lectures, workshops, seminars, training sessions and motivational talks on such topics as law enforcement, security and financial planning. [See his ad elsewhere in this newsletter].
Financial support needed for Church Street School students Church Street School principal and Board 10 member Howard Hornreich is looking for your help to raise sufficient funds for Church Street School students in Hamden to be able to attend the upcoming Nature’s Classroom. Howard wrote to tell us the following: “This autumn, forty sixth-grade students participated in Nature’s Classroom, a week-long science/environmental !
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MARCH 2013 camp. For five days, students participated in team building, science lab experiments, nature walks, and survival skills. More importantly, they learned how to work as part of a community and see a different life outside of their urban home environments. For many of our children, this was the first time they had been out of their immediate area. It was the first time they were away from families, and certainly the first time they had time surrounded by nature. They had no access to television, computers, and cell phones. They all learned about themselves, their peers, and the world around them. For many of them, this trip was the beginning of future careers in science, environmental issues, and to dream of a future outside their immediate world. The cost of this trip was $222 per student. Unfortunately many of our families can not afford to pay this fee. We, as a school, have the daunting task of raising over $6,000. We need your help! Will you please consider sponsoring a student’s fee by sending a check for $222? If this is beyond your means, any contribution, however small would be welcome. Checks should be made out to Church Street School and sent to: Church Street School, 95 Church Street, Hamden, CT 06517.”
IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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Member-to-Member Mart
2nd Annual Chern Memorial Entry Form The Ranch Golf Club, Southwick, MA www.theranchgolfclub.com Saturday, June 15th Format:! Scramble 11:00 AM! Registration 11:30 AM:! Lunch 1:00 PM:! Shotgun 6:00 PM:! Dinner and Awards Player 1 Name: _____________________!
Player 2 Name: ____________________
Email: ______________________!
Email: ___________________________
Cell: _______________________!
Cell: _______________________
Player 3 Name: _____________________!
Player 4 Name: _____________________
Email: ______________________!
Email: ___________________________
Cell: _______________________!
Cell: _______________________
$150 per player $600 per foursome Dinner only: $40 Make checks payble to: The Ranch
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN DOUG’S HONOR Send checks and applications to: Brad Chernovets 3 Jackson Avenue Wallingford, CT 06492 203 996-6039 chern1313@hotmail.com If you are from Connecticut John LoMedico 5 Zambron Terrace Andover, MA 01810 978 302-5300 jlomedico@verizon.net If you are from MA or NH
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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President’s Message: “It’s only a game. Or is it?” -- Ken Devoe After the December 14th shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, many schools postponed games that night in the wake of the tragedy. But some schools played as scheduled and memorialized the victims and their families with a moment of silence. My game was not postponed. When I arrived at the school to observe the JV game, I felt that a pall was cast over everyone in the building. The gym was eerily quiet, even for a JV game. When I greeted the head coaches, basketball was the last thing on their minds. When I observed the warm-ups for the varsity game, the players were just going through the motions. Once we started the game, that eerie atmosphere continued. Eventually, the players got into the spirit of the game, though the spectators remained subdued. It was a very difficult game, emotionally, but my partner and I toughed it out. Simply put, some things in life are far more important than others. Our challenge as officials is to try and figure out where basketball ranks in our lives. We’ve all experienced tragedies such as the loss of a loved one or being confronted with a serious illness that put everything else on the back burner. In 1987, I faced a near-death experience. I had been extremely ill for months. The cause (which turned out to be Crohn’s Disease – something I’d never heard of before) had gone undiagnosed and was in a very advanced stage. One day after yet another examination by my regular physician (who missed the diagnosis but did not refer me to a specialist), an accomplished gastrointestinal specialist happened to be in the building. She took it upon herself to examine me and said, “You’re going to the hospital right now.” I was rushed to Yale-New Haven. They put in a central line and shot me full of steroids, but for days nothing changed. They took daily and nightly x-rays of my lower abdominal area. Still nothing was done to ease my suffering. Then, late one night, the radiologist on duty (cont. on p. 22)
Commissioner’s Commentary: "A look back and ahead” -- John “Bud” Chernovetz As you read this, the regular season is behind us, as are my assigning duties for 2012-13. So, this is a good time to reflect on what transpired and look ahead to what may be in store for you next season. I think overall it was a great year, and I thank you for that. I appreciate your cooperation and your covering the games to which I assigned you. Yet, there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to checking Arbiter more regularly and more often. We still need to work on that. Opportunity knocks One thing that will be notably different next season is our roster. As you may know, we are losing the services of some of our outstanding veteran officials who are retiring. I wish them the best and thank them for the fine example they set by the high standards of their officiating. With the retirement of these officials, more varsity games will open up. Consequently, I am going to ask our Better Officiating Committee, with the backing of the Executive Board, to promote many more sub-varsity officials than we normally do to help me fill the additional varsity games that will become available in the wake of those retirements. Joe Kepics, Tom Raucci and I have developed a list of individuals who, in our view, have the potential to become excellent varsity officials but have not yet had the tough-game experience they will need. That means additional opportunities for you. You need to make the most of those opportunities if and when they present themselves to you. (cont. on p. 22)
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
President’s Message: “It’s only a game. Or is it?” ... (cont. from p. 21)
noticed something on the latest x-ray that the attending physician didn’t pick up and notified the staff that my colon had ruptured and I needed surgery immediately. It was around midnight. Fortunately the surgeon on call was the great Dr. Bernie Siegel. He spent hours in the O.R. literally saving my life. He also had the best bedside manner of any physician I’ve ever met. Totally caring, positive, even spiritual. He has written books such as Love, Medicine and Miracles. He founded ECaP (Exceptional Cancer Patients), an organization that recognizes the power of love and positive thinking in helping people beat the odds. Although I didn’t have cancer, I did beat the odds, because here I am, still running up and down a basketball court -- something that would not have been possible without Dr. Siegel’s emergency intervention as well as his caring and kindness which, as much as if not more than the surgery itself, healed me. Four years ago, my wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Fortunately, she too had a doctor who was exceptional in his technical ability as well his personal manner with patients. Since surgery, she’s been cancer free. Not all life-altering events are tragic or scary. Some are ecstatic, such as the birth of a child or grandchild. I have experienced both. Having gone through momentous experiences – both tragic and happy -I have learned to focus on that which is most important. I try to let the the trivial irritants of daily life go by without paying them heed. They are unimportant in the cosmic scheme of things. It’s easy to put basketball in that category and say, “It’s only a game.” But there’s a danger in doing so. Sure, a basketball game is far less important in the big picture than a loved one’s passing, a lifethreatening illness, or a blessed family occasion. But that is not to say that when we perform our duties on the court, we shouldn’t for that brief period of time, consider that game to be supremely important to all concerned, including us as officials. I try not to take myself too seriously, but I do take the game seriously. We all should. (cont. on p. 23) Commissioner’s Commentary: “A look back and ahead” ... (cont. from p. 21)
There will continue to be opportunities for officials to advance over the next few years and I would advise that the more you work, the better prepared you will be for advancement. I urge all our officials – sub-varsity and varsity alike – to get as much game action and experience in the coming offseason as you possibly can. But don’t just work the games, work ON your game. Use the offseason to hone your skills, judgment, play selection, mechanics, rules knowledge and, especially, your physical conditioning. The shape of things to come I am going to recommend that we conduct a pre-season conditioning test for all Board 10 officials so that I can evaluate your physical ability to do the job you need to do on the court at any given level. You are going to have to be able to hustle, run, and keep up with the pace of play. One complaint I get much too frequently from coaches and athletic directors is about officials who can’t get up and down the court. That is unacceptable. I know that officials’ boards in some of the other sports require their members to pass a physical test before they are allowed on the field of play. It’s something we should do as well. New assignment policy In line with my comments on physical conditioning, some of the feedback I have received from our varsity officials is about the sub-varsity officials they observe who look tired and don’t hustle during the JV games when those games are the second half of freshman-JV doubleheaders. We cannot have that. Accordingly, I am considering not assigning sub-varsity doubleheaders any more, but rather giving freshman games and JV games to separate crews, in other words, limiting each official to one game at a time. There are some mathematical and logistical hurdles in doing so, but I am going to seriously consider giving it a try. (cont. on p. 23) !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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President’s Message: “It’s only a game. Or is it?” ... (cont. from p. 22)
The key is to filter out all the unimportant nonsense and not let it bother us. When I overhear parents in a store chiding their kids over something absolutely trivial, it pains me. Parents should relish every second they have with their children. Those moments, once lost, can’t be reclaimed. Just ask the parents of the 20 kids who lost their lives in Newtown. Finally… This is my last editorial as president of Board 10. When it comes to doing the board’s work, Hank and Buddy do the heavy lifting for which I thank them profusely. But I’ve tried to be a hands-on activist president and get things done to make our organization better. I’ve had plenty of help. At the Sunday meetings, Jeff and Ray developed and delivered the important instructional content. Cheryl has been my right hand for producing this newsletter. It would not be what it is without her tireless efforts. Many of my colleagues, too numerous to mention, have mentored and guided me over the years and provided insights into officiating that I would otherwise not have. Thanks to you all. I’ll see you at the banquet where I will be pleased to pass the gavel on to Steve Kirck II. Commissioner’s Commentary: “A look back and ahead” ... (cont. from p. 22)
A word of thanks I would like to end on a high note, so here it is. There are a number of Unified Games and Special Olympic basketball tournaments coming up, starting this month. I want to thank all of you who notified me that you are available and willing to volunteer your time and services for these games. Board 10 has always come up big in that regard and this year is no exception. So, I thank you, as do the tournament organizers, players, coaches, parents and friends of the participants in these wonderful and worthwhile events. Have a terrific offseason, and please, use it to get better. We can all improve, so let’s do it.
FROM THE LIGHTER SIDE For a humorous look at the life of a basketball referee, check out Kevin Sparrock’s “Fouls & Violations” web site: www.foulsandviolations.net
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
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THE DOCTOR IS IN Board 10’s Dr. Dan Davis discusses injury prevention and treatment, as well as general health and fitness, to help keep you on the court.
“The importance of offseason conditioning” EDITOR's NOTE: Since the regular season is ending shortly and the offseason is almost upon us, we thought it would be useful to reprint Dr. Dan’s column from March of last year about offseason conditioning as a reference for you.
Q: Why is it so important to continue to work out in some form after the basketball season is over? A: If you don’t work out to stay in shape, you waste all that time and effort you invested last year, getting yourself ready for the season and keeping yourself in shape during the season. Now that the basketball season is over, you should definitely focus on doing something to maintain physical fitness throughout the spring, summer and fall. If you stay in shape, your body appreciates it. You become healthier while avoiding certain health risks. And remember, as you get older, the risks become greater because it is simply more difficult to get back into shape as you age. Q: How hard is it to condition yourself if you don’t officiate basketball in the offseason? A: The good news is, it only takes a minimal amount of time and energy to maintain your fitness levels until you are ready to resume basketball officiating next winter. For example, there is ample research indicating that just walking 30 minutes a day – especially walking at a brisk pace -- provides an outstanding mode of !
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exercise. You get a very good cardiac workout. Plus, it’s a great way to tone your muscles. By contrast, though running and jogging are also good workouts, running more than 5 miles a day does not produce that much of a benefit and in fact may come back to hurt you. Q: What about exercise routines? A: As you know, I preach the importance of maintaining your flexibility through stretching and other exercises, because lack of flexibility leads to some of the more common foot and lower leg injuries that I see. So if you worked regularly to maintain your flexibility during the season, it’s important to continue in the offseason, and doing so is not that difficult. Q: Your thoughts on exercise equipment? A: You can get a good workout on a stationary bike. One advantage beyond fitness is that you can multi-task while on the bike. You can read, watch TV, listen to music on your iPod, all while on the cycle. You get a good cardiac workout and continue to tone your muscles. It’s another way to prevent you from losing all the phsyical fitness benefits you enjoyed while officiating for a few months during the season. Stationary bikes come in many different “flavors.” Some make your legs work. Others also make your arms work at (cont. on p. 25)
IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN The Doctor is In: Offseason conditioning ... (cont. from p. 24)
the same time so you get a good upper and lower body workout. Whichever you choose, remember that proper warm-up and cool-down are both important. Q: How about treadmills? A: You can walk, jog, or run on a treadmill and get a workout indoors, without having to worry about the elements. If your body can tolerate it, that’s fine. But, I would point out that it is better for you, biomechanically, to walk, jog or run outside on a stationary surface rather than on the moving surface of a treadmill. Biomechanics in this context refers to how your heels and toes strike the surface you’re walking or running on and how you absorb shock and balance yourself. On a moving surface, as with a treadmill, your brain tells your body to compensate for that motion, and your feet spread out more on a treadmill than on a sidewalk or track and that can lead to heel pain, shin splints, or knee pain. I also strongly recommend against treadmills for anyone who has diabetes, as diabetics are more prone to callouses and ulcerative breakdowns. Q: Any other recommendations for offseason conditioning? A: One suggestion of course is: Don’t have an offseason. You can officiate basketball all year long at AAU tournaments, spring, summer and fall leagues, and so forth. But if you choose not to do basketball, you can officiate other sports and still get a pretty good workout. Lacrosse, for example, provides a nice workout – not as strenuous as soccer, but still pretty good Plus,
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MARCH 2013 the learning curve to become a lacrosse official isn’t that bad, and there’s a fairly high demand for officials in that sport. Whether you choose to officiate basketball or any other sport – or to not officiate any sport in the offseason -- my overall recommendation is to do whatever you can in terms of exercise to maintain your physical fitness. Exercise makes you healthier physically and mentally. Your metabolic rate stays up so you are less likely to gain weight, and as you know from reading my earlier columns, extra weight puts a lot of extra stress and pressure on your feet. People who workout all year long tend to keep their weight in line without a lot of fluctuation. Plus, your body enjoys a good workout. Exercising produces endorphins, which are a natural opiate, reducing the aches and pains that come from physical exertion and, as a result, you just plain feel better. Got a health and fitness question for Dr. Dan? Email it by clicking here: Ask Dr. Dan Member-to-Member Mart
Stock up on the apparel and accessories you need to supplement your uniform and equipment. Find it all at Guilford Sporting Goods. Shoes, socks, compression shorts, under armour and more. Guilford Sporting Goods 1795-A Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT. (203) 453-2370. Frank Bepko, proprietor.
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Member-to-Member Mart
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Member Profile: Kevin Moffett Kevin Moffett is a triple threat, as we say in the sports business. He has officiated football for 27 years, and added basketball and lacrosse to his repertoire a number of years ago. That’s a lot of time blowing whistles (but not calls) and making judgments in crucial situations. We’ll bring you up to date on his officiating career shortly. But first, some biographical data. Kevin is a native New Havener. When he was 9 years old, his family moved to Hamden. Kevin is a graduate of Hamden High school, where he played football and hockey. Back in the day, when he played hockey for the Green Dragons, there was no state tournament as we now know it. In fact, there were very few high school hockey programs – no Fairfield Prep or Notre Dame. Imagine local high school hockey before those two became the powerhouses that they are today. Consequently, Hamden would play against the Yale and Princeton freshman as well as against the prep schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island that did have a hockey program. Rinks were not plentiful either, and often Kevin’s team had to practice outdoors on frozen ponds. After high school, Kevin attended Quinnipiac College (as it was known then). But he put his college career on hold and entered the Army Reserve where he was trained as a medic. After finishing his service in the reserves, Kevin enrolled at the University of New Haven where he earned a degree in business management in 1975. He had to work during the day and study by night. Speaking of work, Kevin’s career has been entirely as a purchasing professional, including 19 years at Timex Corporation in purchasing and project management. You remember Timex: “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” Kevin’s task was purchasing the components and assemblies that went into Timex watches, including digital watches when that technology became available. In fact, he worked on the original Timex Iron Man Triathlon watch. Eventually, Timex outsourced all their manufacturing and their distribution center overseas. So Kevin moved on to work at Yale where he is to this day as a facilities buyer for the campus. Kevin currently resides in Orange with his wife of 44 years (well, in August it will be 44), Patti, a longtime teacher. His daughter, Krista, is a teacher. She and her family live in North Carolina. His son Dan resides in Orange. He is an operations manager for a company in Plainville that processes medical claims for a number of insurance companies. With that behind us, let’s get back on the football field. When Kevin’s son was a youngster about to start playing Kevin Moffett overseeing the 2010 National Footba! Foundation A! Star Game -- New Haven Country vs. Little League baseball, Kevin got to know Henry Roche, Fairfield County. a well known umpire and college football official. Henry was always on the lookout for people who were interested in sports and willing to consider becoming a football official as well. Kevin was one of those people. He worked his way up through the ranks, going from youth games to JV to (cont. on p. 28) !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Member Profile: Kevin Moffett ... (cont. from p. 27)
varsity as a member of the New Haven Football Officials’ Association. He also worked at the D-II and D-III college levels for 10 years. Kevin noticed that a lot of his fellow football officials also worked men’s lacrosse. Kevin wanted to get into that sport as well, but because of his own schedule, he couldn’t get to the classes that were necessary to join the lacrosse board. Eventually that sorted itself out and Kevin has been doing lacrosse games for the last six years with a full varsity schedule, an SCC tournament game and two state playoff games to his credit. When it comes to basketball, Kevin officiated “unofficially” for rec leagues in Orange for about 20 years. When those leagues decided that they wanted board certified officials, Kevin joined Board 10. This is his 6th year with us. When asked about the highlights of his officiating career, Kevin has plenty of them, including a final in the state football tournament between Putnam and Stamford Catholic. He’s also had the opportunity to work UCONN Big East football scrimmages, in which he teamed up with some excellent D-I college officials, including a referee who had headed the crew of a national championship game. One of his favorite basketball experiences was his first varsity game last year. He was originally scheduled to do a JV game at O’Brien Tech, but ended up instead at the GuilfordHillhouse boys varsity game. One of the individuals assigned to that game couldn’t do it because his wife had just gone into labor. It was fairly “last-minute.” So Buddy had to scramble to find someone to send there and that someone was Kevin. He worked the game with Bill Murphy and survived the experience handily. Kevin with (le& to right) Steve Kirck II, Al Talk about trial by fire. Like all of us who officiate any sport for Carfora and Charlie Hague, among the volany length of time, we pick up things we can use and hopefully, if unteers for a recent Unified Games tournathey work for us, we pass them on to others. When asked about ment. that, Kevin said: “I learn something new in every game I work. It might be a play or a situation that I’ve never seen before. The hope is that I’ll react to it properly when the time comes. That’s one of the things that keep me going.” Kevin also took to heart what that national championship game official said to him when they did the UCONN football scrimmage together: “Stay calm out there. See the play and make the call. Make sure it’s a good call, a correct call, and nothing cheap. But mostly, relax and enjoy the experience, and let the game come to you.” Pretty good advice for the rest of us.
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Member-to-Member Mart
New England Collegiate Officials Camp The New England Collegiate Officials Camp is running this spring’s camp on April 1314 at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. This camp is run in conjunction with the Northeast Hoops Festival -- a high level AAU tourney. The camp is staffed by the ECAC Men’s assignors and top level collegiate officials who are strong teachers of proper officiating. This is a good chance to be seen and a perfect opportunity to learn. For more information you can contact Larry Last ECAC Men’s Coordinator of officials at lnlast@comcast.net or 781-724-4433 or Mike Scanlon at coachref199@sbcglobal.net or 203-415-4185. Info is available at the website www.necollegeofficiating.com Application is below. Fee is $150.00 Name _______________________________________ Address ______________________________________ City and State ___________________________________ Phone number ___________________________________ Level you officiate right now __________________________ T-Shirt size ______________________________________ Any time or day restrictions __________________________ Send check or money order made out to Larry Last at: Larry Last 6 Grant Street Stoneham, Ma 02180 !
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Board 10 Knowledge Bank Board 10 officials share their knowledge and experience with tips to clip and news you can use
“Work on your muscle memory”
“Getting to the core”
Cheryl McCarthy-Chiari
Ray Vanacore Core values for basketball officiating are those values which form the foundation and guidelines on how we conduct ourselves when we are between or outside the lines. They should certainly be desirable qualities, high standards and principles. There are as many different core values for officials as there are officials, but I will give you three at the top of my list: Commitment, Honor, and Excellence. I believe that these core values that should become part and parcel of how we officiate. We won’t find these values in in any rulebook or mechanics manual. But they should be principles that we put into practice in every game we work. Commitment is the single most important factor for individual success. A commitment is a pledge, a promise that we make and renew throughout our career. It’s a pledge to work as hard as we can and to pursue the highest standards of officiating. This commitment ignites our officiating actions. There should be two fundamental conditions for our officiating commitment. First, is having a sound set of officiating beliefs. Second, is faithful adherence in applying those beliefs to each game we work. It is “Persistence with a Purpose.”
When your body repeats certain actions or movements, your body learns those actions or movements. Eventually, they become instinctive and automatic. That’s muscle memory. That’s a good thing – IF your movements are good for the activity you are pursuing. But, if you’re repeatedly doing the wrong thing, that can adversely affect your performance. That’s especially true for officiating.
Ideally, you should work hard to do things correctly the first time, second time, repeatedly and consistently. This means practicing in front of the mirror to get your mechanics right. It also means hustling to the spot, reporting crisply, studying the rulebook, watching games and learning from veteran officials. If you want to become an accomplished official, you need to put in a lot of hours, not just during the season but the offseason as well. Your muscle memory – and mental memory -- will build up and be stored so that, eventually, you will be displaying the correct mechanics, using the correct verbiage and following the rules correctly. On the other hand, if you continually repeat bad habits, those bad habits become part of your muscle and mental memory. A lot of officials who work AAU and travel leagues don’t switch, even on shooting fouls. They don’t hustle or follow correct procedures. They don’t pick up their rulebook for months. The same can be said for conditioning. Too many officials don’t watch what they eat during the offseason and let their workout routines slide. As a result, they gain weight. After months of bad habits, your mistakes become part of (cont. on p. 31) !
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Honor in officiating is a combination of honesty, fairness and integrity. It is our character. It is who we are, or supposed to be. It is a big part of how we are evaluated. Honesty, fairness and integrity are – or should be -- apparent in our actions on the court. We must (cont. on p. 31)
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Muscle Memory ... (cont. from p. 30)
Getting to the core ... (cont. from p. 30)
your muscle memory. When the regular season starts, all those bad habits are still stored in your muscle memory.
always act honorably as an ambassador for Board 10 and understand that it is a privilege to officiate basketball as a representative of Board 10. Excellence may be difficult to achieve, but we should strive for it. The perfectly officiated game has not yet been worked, but each of us must attempt to come as close as we can to doing a perfect game. More so today than ever before, officials are being held to a higher standard by coaches, players and spectators alike. It would greatly benefit all officials to maintain good physical conditioning, know the rules, use proper signals and mechanics, be in the right position to make the correct calls, and be prepared for any officiating situation. Acquiring excellence requires the repetitive practice of our craft and the continued desire to get better. Improving our officiating performance should be every official’s goal. Remember, excellence comes from your ability, knowledge and practice as an official. In the ever-changing game of basketball, our core values should remain constant. Identifying and acting according to our core values can help to prevent us from making incorrect rulings. By contrast, when our officiating actions conflict with our values, it results in missed or incorrect rulings. Defining our officiating core values will give us more confidence to grow as officials. When we have the courage and confidence to make the rulings based on our core values, the result is pride and a sense of accomplishment. Understand your core values and adhere to them. In the end, these core values will be the basic foundation of how we officiate. And we together, we will grow stronger as a Board.
The more these mistakes accumulate, the harder they are to overcome. Building good habits or muscle memories will help any official become a better official. Repetition of good habits will work like muscle memory. Eventually your good habits will become part of you. You’ll do the right things automatically. You won’t have to think about hustling to the spot, you’ll just do it. You will know how to rule correctly on tough plays and you’ll be able to properly explain your rulings if the coach questions you. All these things give officials more confidence, strength and credibility, as well as pride in their work. We’ve all heard that practice makes perfect. That’s true, but only if you practice – and your muscles remember – good habits instead of bad ones. Cheryl McCarthy-Chiari is a Board 10 official and a D-II and D-III women’s college official. She’s also our liaison to the IAABO Women’s Coordinating Committee.
Ray Vanacore is an Assistant Interpreter and Past President of Board 10
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
ASK THE INTERPRETER
With Jeffrey Smith, Board 10 Interpreter and CT State Interpreter
Ruling on the unusual The following bizarre plays and situations actually happened. We asked our Interpreter for the correct ruling in each of these situations.
PLAY 1: A1 is driving the lane on the way to a layup attempt. B1 shoves a teammate, B2, into A1, resulting in substantial contact. The play occurs while A1 is still dribbling and before any shot attempt. Should a foul be called? If so, what kind of foul and against which player? RULING: A common foul should be assessed to B2, since he/she was the player who made illegal contact with A1. In addition, an intentional personal foul should be assessed to B1. (Rule 4-19-3 a, b & c). This play would obviously require the officials to confer with one another, with the teams being directed to their respective bench areas. If Team A is in the bonus, A1 is awarded the necessary free throws, followed by two free throws, also awarded to A1, for the intentional foul. Team A is awarded a designated throw-in nearest the spot where the intentional foul occurred. (Rule 7-5-4b) PLAY 2: Time is winding down to the final few seconds with the score tied. This is a tournament game, so the pressure and intensity levels are high. Both teams have one timeout remaining. The coach of Team A asks for a timeout which is granted by one official. At exactly the same time, the coach !
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MARCH 2013 of Team B asks for a timeout which is granted by the other official. Neither official or coach was initially aware that the granting of the timeouts was simultaneous. Both coaches are saying that their opponent called the time out first. This puts the crew in a quandary. If the officials confer and decide after all that one team’s request came before the other and grant that team a timeout, that team will then have been charged with its final timeout while the other team will still have one timeout remaining. The coach of the team charged with the timeout will be understandably upset. If on the other hand, after conferring with each other, the officials maintain that both timeout requests came simultaneously, do they charge each team with its final timeout? If so, what then is the correct ensuing procedure? RULING: Once a timeout has been granted, it must be charged. (Case Play 5.8.3 Situation E, a). If both officials had granted a timeout to both coaches without either partner realizing what had occurred (simultaneously), then each team is charged with a timeout and they would run concurrently. If 1) one team had a 30-second timeout and the other a 60-second time-out remaining, the duration shall be 60 seconds; 2) if both teams had a 30-second time-out remaining, the duration would still be 60 seconds, and 3) if both teams had a 60-second timeout remaining, the duration would be 60 seconds. (Rule 5-11-8). PLAY 3: Though it should not ever happen, the following situation did actually occur in a game. Team A trailed Team B by 2 points with time running out. Player A1 scored on a lay-up to tie the game and then immediately stole the inbound pass from thrower-in B1 and put the ball up and in to give Team A the lead – and the win -- just as time expired. However, no official on the crew saw the basket being made. Neither the official scorer nor the clock operator saw that final basket as both were entering (on the clock and in the official scorebook) the result of the previous play, so they were not looking at the court. Without “definite knowledge” of the scoring play (cont. on p. 33)
IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN Ask the Interpreter... (cont. from p. 32)
at the buzzer, the officials left the score tied and sent the game into overtime. What if anything could or should have been done in this situation? RULING: Unfortunately, in this situation, since none of the officials or any table personnel crew saw the made basket, it cannot be scored. (Rule 2-11; Case Play 2.11.10 Situation A & Situation B). The game officials are assisted by the official scorer and the official timer (Rule 2-2). The final decision shall be made by the Referee. (Rule 25-3, 5 and 7). PLAY 4: During the closing seconds of the game, A1 throws the ball the length of the court toward his or her basket The ball leaves A1's hand prior to
MARCH 2013 the expiration of the game clock. The ball strikes the floor in the frontcourt and bounces towards the basket. As the ball is on its downward flight, the horn sounds, then the ball enters the basket. Does the basket count? RULING: The basket shall not count. Once the ball contacted the floor and the horn sounded to end the quarter prior to the ball entering the basket, the ball became dead because the try ended. (Rule 4-41-4; Rule 6-7-6; Case Play 5.1.1 Situation B) If you have a ques-on about rules, mechanics, or procedures, please email your ques-on by clicking on: Ask the Interpreter.
Member-to-Member Mart
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Member-to-Member Mart
Aunt Chilada’s, voted New Haven’s Best Mexican Restaurant, is the perfect place for food, fun, entertainment -- and parties for any occasion. If you can’t come to us, no problem. We cater and deliver to your home or office. PLUS, enjoy 25-cent wings and $5 pitchers on Sundays while watching your favorite sports on any of our 10 TV’s. Eat, drink and be merry at Aunt Chilada’s. 3931 Whitney Ave., Hamden. (203) 230-4640. Charlie Hague, proprietor
Visit us at www.sachemwineandspirits.com and get added to our email list. Frank Bepko, proprietor
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IAABO BOARD 10 NEW HAVEN
MARCH 2013
Calendar Dues payable by March 15, 2013 Late payments will incur penalties. Board 10 Banquet: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the Country House Restaurant, Rte. 80 in East Haven
Next issue of Bd 10.COMmuniqué: Summer, 2013
NOTE: All past issues of the newsletter are now posted at our Board 10 website. Visit: www.iaabo10.org, navigate to the home page, and click on the “NEWSLETTER” tab.
Helpful Links Bd 10.COMmuniqué is an interactive, electronic document. Wherever you see text highlighted in blue, bold, underlined type, that is a hot link to either an email address or a web page. Simply click on that link to submit ideas and questions, or to get more information. Here are some helpful links: • Board 10 Website • Ask Dr. Dan • News & Notes and Story Ideas • Ask the Interpreter • CIAC Officials’ Association • ArbiterSports • Women’s Coordinating Committee • Board 10 Knowledge Bank" • IAABO • Member to Member Mart
Bd 10.COMmuniqué EDITOR IN CHIEF: Hank Luzzi hluzzi@comcast.net MANAGING EDITOR/CHIEF CORRESPONDENT: Ken Devoe kendevoe@pantheon.yale.edu CO-MANAGING EDITOR/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER: Cheryl McCarthy Chiari CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Jeffrey Smith, Ray Vanacore DESIGN & LAYOUT: Ken Devoe Email story ideas, news and notes, and questions to: Ken Devoe or Hank Luzzi
All issues of Bd 10.COMmuniqué are available on-line at the Board 10 Website.
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