High School Changes (updated 6/29/10):

Lou Conte has retired as athletic director of Agawam High School after 33 years. He is being replaced by Dave Stratton, Jr.

Nancy Kurty has become the assistant principal at Ludlow High School. Tim Brillo, head girls basketball coach, has been promoted to replace her as athletic director.

Ned Doyle is retiring as athletic director at Minnechaug after 18 years. No replacement has been named as yet.

Dan Franczek has resigned as boys basketball coach at Chicopee Comp.



Please see the attached press release from the National Federation regarding rule changes for the 2010-2011 season:

NFHS Basketball Rules Committee Focuses on Good Sporting Behavior



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Struckhoff

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 5, 2010) — Promotion of good sporting behavior highlighted rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee at its April 12-14 meeting in Indianapolis. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors and will take effect with the 2010-11 season.

Rules 10-3-6i and 10-5-5 were added to address the unsporting acts of leaving the playing court for an unauthorized reason to demonstrate resentment, disgust or intimidation as well as to address team members leaving the bench and/or playing area for an unauthorized reason.

“It was part of closing a gap in the rule created in 2005,” said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee.

Struckhoff said a rule passed by the committee in 2005 changed the unauthorized leaving of the floor during play from a technical foul to a violation.

“At that time, the committee was more concerned about a strategy being utilized during live-action, and the rule was changed from a technical foul to a violation,” Struckhoff said. “This year’s changes address leaving the court for an unauthorized reason during breaks in the action and specifically relate to sporting behavior.”

Sportsmanship will also be addressed in a 2010-11 Point of Emphasis relating to pregame warm-ups and intermissions, recommending that players entering the court for warm-ups not run through the opposing team’s warm-up or under its basket.

“Proper sporting behavior is paramount in interscholastic sports,” Struckhoff said. “The NFHS membership and the high school community are generally happy with where the game is. The sport of basketball is in good shape, so the committee focused on sportsmanship issues first.”

A change to Rule 3-5-3a adjusted the acceptable colors of headbands and wristbands for players. The change now allows players to wear any single, solid school color, not just the predominant color of the jersey. Players will be permitted to wear black, white, beige or a solid school color, provided all participants are wearing the same color.

“The desire is for the team to look uniform in its appearance,” Struckhoff said. “But, the committee wanted a team wearing its home white uniforms to have an option to wear one of the school’s colors.”

Following are other changes made by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee:

· A significant rules change that will affect all sports requires that any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, including but not limited to loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems, must be removed from the contest immediately and shall not return to play before being cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.

· A note added to Rule 3-3-1a which also affects Rule 4-32-2 states that when a substitute is not properly reported, the players in the game at the conclusion of the quarter or after the time-out was granted shall begin play for the new quarter or after the time-out has ended. Additionally, it notes that all team members are bench personnel for the purpose of penalizing unsporting behavior.

· A change to Rule 3-4-2d clarifies where a school logo or mascot may be located. It is permissible if the logo is at the apex or opening of the neckline, in the corresponding area on the back of the jersey and/or in either side insert.

· More specifications were made under Rule 3-5-2 regarding the requirements for guards, casts and braces. With this, it notes protective face masks must be worn molded to the face.

· Rule 4-4-7d was modified to clarify when a ball is at the disposal of a player after a goal is scored.

· Additionally, a clarification to Rule 7-6-6 states that when the ball is awarded to the wrong team, the mistake must be rectified before the throw-in ends.

A complete listing of all rules changes approved by the committee is available on the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Athletics & Fine Arts Activities” on the home page, and select “Basketball.”

Basketball is the second-most popular sport for girls and third-most popular for boys at the high school level, according to the 2008-09 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS, with 444,809 girls and 545,145 boys participating nationwide. The sport ranks first in school sponsorship of girls and boys teams with 17,582 schools sponsoring the sport for girls and 17,869 sponsoring the sport for boys.

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2010 Board 31 Banquet Wrap Up

The Annual Board 31 Banquet was held on March 12, 2010 at the Munich Haus Restaurant in Chicopee. Scott Coen, Sports Director of Channel 40, was kind enough to fill in for Coach Derek Kellog of UMass as guest speaker. Several awards were presented:

Scholarship Awards: Kaitlyn Veit, Holyoke Catholic HS & Peter Campfield, Minnechaug Regional HS

Walter Hickson Award: Chuck Elias

Bob D'Agastino Award: Dave Tabin


Raffle Winners Announced!

Below is the list of winners pulled for the 2010 Board #31 Raffle! If your name appears on this list you have won and will be contacted soon.

Date     Payout    Name
1st    $100     Way Dotson
2nd    $25     Jose Romero
3rd    $50     Herm Eichstaldt
4th    $75     Kevin White
5th    $50     Zupo Zukowski
6th    $25     Jessica Castro
7th    $50     Jeffrey Danza
8th    $25     Dawna Cavagnaro
9th    $75     Kyle Gendron
10th    $25     Al Domanique
11th    $100     Diane L'Heureux
12th    $50     Patty Bouvier
13th    $75     Judy Croci
14th    $125     Frank Vancini
15th    $50     Jim Whipple
16th    $25     Kyle Parent
17th    $75     John Tobin
18th    $50     Frank Vancini
19th    $25     Benjamin Daigneault
20th    $50     Kevin Ferriter
21st    $100     Gigi DeAngelus
22nd    $25     Bob Campbell
23rd    $75     Way Dotson
24th    $50     Jim Winiewicz
25th    $75     Virginia Weiner
26th    $25     Derek Rodriguez
27th    $50     Mackenzie Gray
28th    $75     Art Belanger




Meeting Attendance:

Please remember that the Board 31 Constitution requires that you must attend at least two of our meetings during the year in which the meeting includes rules discussion. This two-meeting requirement includes the annual Rules Clinic in November. Failure to attend the Board 31 Rules Clinic, or one put on by another IAABO board, makes a member ineligible to work that season, no exceptions. If a member attends the Rules Clinic but does not attend at least one other meeting, he/she is also subject to immediate suspension. Please keep this in mind as our last meeting will be Sunday, January 31. The banquet is NOT considered a meeting.


Dates of IAABO Rules Clinics in Massachusetts; Fall 2009

Oct 18 North Andover HS 10:00AM
Oct 18 Catholic Youth Center, Pittsfield 6:00 PM
Oct 25 Lowell Catholic HS 10:00AM
Oct 25 Smith Academy, Hatfield 10:00AM
Oct 28 Lowell Catholic HS, 7:00PM
Oct 28 Smith Academy, Hatfield 7:00PM
Nov 1 UMass Boston; Clark Athletic Ctr 10:00AM
Nov 4 Dean Tech HS, Holyoke 6:30PM
Nov 6 Pearson Hall; Tufts Univ, Medford 7:00PM
Nov 9 Westboro HS, 7:00PM
Nov 15 Marlboro Boys & Girls Club, 9:00AM
Nov 16 Marchigiano Club, Milford 6:30PM
Nov 18 Salem HS, 7:00PM
Nov 20 East Bridgewater HS, 7:00PM
Nov 22 Taunton Boys & Girls Club, 9:30AM
Nov 23 Oak Ridge School, Sandwich 7:00PM
Nov 29 East Bridgewater HS 10:00AM
Dec 6 Monty Tech HS, Fitchburg 9:00AM
Dec 7 Monty Tech HS, Fitchburg 6:30PM
Dec 13 North Andover HS, 10:00AM


The results of the board elections held at the Feb 8, 2009 meeting are:
Secretary-Treasurer: Tony Dulude
Vice President: Keith Scarlett

Shot Clock Rules and Situations
I. Shot clock stops and is reset:
A. On any change of possession (this includes a successful try)
B. When a held ball occurs (exceptions to follow)
C. When a try strikes the ring or flange and then possession is gained by either     team
D. When a violation occurs (exceptions to follow)
E. When the ball is intentionally kicked
F. When an inadvertent whistle occurs with no team control (or ensuing throw-    in)
G. When a double foul or simultaneous foul occurs with no team control (or     ensuing throw-in)
H. When a single personal foul or single technical foul occurs

II. Shot clock stops without a reset:
A. When the ball is deflected out of bounds by a defensive player
B. When a player is injured
C. When a held ball occurs while there is team control and the arrow favors the     offensive team
D. After any double foul or simultaneous foul, while there is team control
E. After an inadvertent whistle when there is team control

III. After the shot clock has been stopped, it starts:
    A. During a throw-in, when the ball is legally touched inbounds, by either the     offense or the defense.
    B. During a jump ball, when the ball is controlled (not merely touched) by a     player.
    C. After an unsuccessful try, when the ball is controlled by a player of either     team.
    D. After a successful try, when the throw-in pass is legally touched inbounds     by a player of either team. (NOTE: Make sure the shot clock is not running     while the thrower-in still has the ball!)
IV, Shot clock situations
A. Shot + horn + ball strikes ring = No violation.
    Comment: Shot clock is reset and will start when either team gains control.

B. Shot + horn + ball misses rim + ball is caught by B1 = Shot clock violation.     Comment: Do not allow play to continue. Blow whistle, administer throw-    in to Team B with a new shot clock.

C. Shot + horn + inadvertent whistle + ball strikes ring = Blow whistle.
    Comment: No violation, but because the ball became dead with no team     control, the result is an AP procedure. Team with the arrow receives a     throw-in with a new shot clock.

D. Shot by A1 + blocked by B1 + horn + ball lands out of bounds =
    Shot clock violation.
    Comment: Even though B1 touched the ball last before it went out of     bounds, the shot clock violation happened first and is penalized. Team B     receives a throw-in with a new shot clock.

E. Shot by A1 + blocked by B1 + simultaneously recovered by A2 and B2 +     shot clock shows 15 seconds = The result of the play is a held ball with no     team control.
    Comment: The team with the arrow will receive an AP throw-in with a new     shot clock. This ruling also applies if the held ball occurs after an “air ball”.

F. Shot by A1 + blocked by B1 + ball is loose on the floor + horn = Shot clock     violation.
    Comment: The shot clock continues to run until the ball strikes the ring or     Team B gains control.

G. Pass by A1 + deflection by B1 + ball strikes ring = No reset.
    Comment: The shot clock resets when the ball strikes the ring during a try.     Shot clock continues to run. This is also true if A1 makes the deflection.

H. Shot by A1 + double foul on A2 and B2 + try is unsuccessful = After a     double foul, play is resumed at the point of interruption.
    Comment: This is an AP situation with no team control. The team with the     arrow receives an AP throw-in with a new shot clock.

J. A1 is dribbling inbounds + double foul on A2 and B2 = After a double foul,     play is resumed at the point of interruption.
    Comment: Since there is team control, the ball is awarded to Team A with     no reset of the shot clock.

V. Officiating the shot clock
A. Especially at the sub-Varsity level, you must make sure the shot clock is run     properly.
B. Have a pre-game with your shot clock operator.
C. Check the shot clock after every whistle to make sure that it has not been     reset incorrectly.
D. After a time-out, make sure that you and your partner are aware of the time     remaining on the shot clock.
E. Shot clock is primary responsibility of the Trail official in a 2-whistle game.     1. Lead should be ready to help.
2. If you have a good shot clock operator, use the shot clock as an aid for the     10-second backcourt count.
F. After an air ball or a shot that narrowly misses the ring that is recovered by     the offense:
1. Trail must check to make sure that the shot clock is not reset.
2. If it is reset, blow the whistle and have the clock set back to what it should     be.
3. If the air ball results in an opportunity for a quick put-back, withhold     whistle.





Looking for driving directions for a Massachusetts high school or its athletic fields/game sites? The MIAA web site has this! Find it at this link and click onto "Member School Lookup":
http://www.miaa.net


Looking for information on high school rule changes for 2009-2010, mechanics and instructions for the scorer and timer? Use this link to obtain all this high school basketball information: http://www.nfhs.org/web/2006/08/basketball.aspx







MEMO REGARDING LACK OF SHOT CLOCKS AT GAME SITES

    After corresponding with Virginia Anderson at the MIAA, it was made clear to officials that the MIAA does not require notification if there are no shot clocks present at a game site during the regular season. As was stated in our Jan 7th meeting, the game should be played. A report should then be made to Bill L'Hereux and the League Director for the PVIAC,Tom Russo.
    To summarize the discussion from our previous meeting: If only one of the shot clocks at the game site is functioning, you will play the game using only that shot clock. The team that is not facing the shot clock will be responsible for counting it out for its own players. If neither shot clock is functioning, you will play the game with an alternate timing device at the table. This will be a stopwatch or a handheld clock. The timer will announce “TEN” when 10 seconds remain on the shot clock and will then count down the final five seconds. If there is no alternate timing device available, you will play the game without shot clock rules in effect. After the game, you should notify Bill L’Hereux immediately and also notify the League Director.



REMINDER: A backcourt violation consists of four elements. If all four occur, it is a violation. If any one of them is missing, the play is legal. The four elements are:

1) There must be team control.
2) The ball must have frontcourt status.
3) The team in control must be the last to touch the ball before it gains backcourt status.
4) The team in control must be the first to touch the ball after it gains backcourt status.