Basketball Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 21, 2005 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


I. Purpose and Introductions
The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by Gary Pigott. Mr. Pigott and Mr. Thornton noted the purpose of the meeting and those in attendance proceeded with a brief introduction of themselves. In attendance were members: Shea Bolin, Orange Park; Kim Pereira, Fleming Island; Ed Kershner, Oviedo; Cindy Cox, Santa Fe (Alachua); Don Dziagwa, Tampa Catholic; Theresa Iuliucci, Jensen Beach; Henry Dunn, Hialeah-Miami Lakes; Bob Horodyski (FACA-Boys); and Mike Ruszkowski (FACA-Girls). Staff Members present were: John Stewart, Commissioner; Sonny Hester, Senior Director of Athletic Operations; Gary Pigott, Girls Basketball Administrator; Jack Watford, Director of Communications; and Denarvise Thornton, Boys Basketball Administrator.

II. The Committee completed their travel expense vouchers.

III. The Committee selected Ed Kershner as the chairperson.

IV. The Committee reviewed and adopted the minutes from the previous minutes.

The agenda was adopted.

V. Action
A. Review
1. 2005 FHSAA Florida Basketball Finals. The committee discussed concerns resulting from the recently concluded girls and boys basketball finals:
• State Series Passes - Staff reviewed situations in which use of state series passes was abused. Staff informed the committee that new policies may evolve as a result of the misuse of the state series passes.
• Finals Statistics – Staff shared the game statistics report as submitted to the National Federation.
• Seating – The committee commended The Lakeland Center staff for the general seating / admission policy. This seemed to have remedied many of their concerns. The committee also commends The Lakeland Center staff for the coaches’ designated seating area.

2. FHSAA Basketball Regulations Manual.
• 204.03 District Planning Meeting. The committee recommends that several items be listed in the agenda section of the manual to ensure discussion and decisions are reached for the district tournament in the following areas: team rosters for programs, security for teams participating, and place more emphasis on the use of an adult for the official timer and scorer. It was also mentioned that districts may work with their local officials’ associations to have the younger officials work the scorer’s table for training and education.
• 205.03 Gym Capacities. The committee suggests the FHSAA provide a method of collecting data for determining the maximum seating capacity to determine that regional hosts meet the minimum requirements.

3. State Finals Officials’ Assignments
Committee members Bolin and Kershner reported to the committee their experience in participating in the evaluation program as FHSAA evaluators. Additionally, staff informed the committee of how this information is used in determining officials for state assignments.

B. BkAC Recommendations (Effective for 2005-06, if Passed by Board of Directors)
Listed below are the recommendations proposed, active for the 2004-2005 season, as a result of the meeting:

RECOMMENDATION #1
Officials’ scratch list procedures
The FHSAA must make sure that scratch lists are being sent out by officials associations in a timely manner to the schools and that officials who have been scratched are not allowed to officiate those schools who have scratched them in regular season home games.
Motioned by Ruszkowski / 2nd by Pinder
1st BkAC Rdg (9-0 Approve) March 22, 2004
1st ADAC Rdg (No Action Taken) April 7, 2004 Schools have the discretion to address this through current policy, when contracting with officials’ associations.
OAC (No Action Taken) March 21, 2005. Schools have a responsibility in following-up and working closely with the associations to remedy these situations.
2nd BkAC Rdg (10-0 Tabled) March 21, 2005. The committee feels by tabling this recommendation, it will allow for additional information in determining the need for such a policy affecting the entire state.

RECOMMENDATION #2
Designated Seating at Lakeland Center (preferably lower bowl)
Allow college coaches, high school coaches and administrators with FHSAA State Series passes and FHSAA coaches’ ID to sit in a designated section.
Motioned by Dunn / 2nd by Pinder
1st BkAC Rdg (9-0 Approve) March 22, 2004
1st ADAC Rdg (No Action Taken) April 7, 2004 It is the function of FHSAA staff and host to determine seating arrangements at state events.
2nd BkAC Rdg (Withdrawn) March 21, 2005. The committee endorses the general admission seating which allows the coaches (high school and college) to sit together.

RECOMMENDATION #3
Officials Calling Three Games in a Row
Amended: Except in emergency situations, referees (officials) should be limited to two games in one night. It is recommended that referees should not officiate more than two consecutive games in one day/night.
Motioned by Shea / 2nd by Ruszkowski
1st BkAC Rdg (9-0 Approve) March 22, 2004
1st ADAC Rdg (No Action Taken) April 7, 2004. Availability and number of active officials are concerns relative to the number of games scheduled.
OAC (No Action Taken) March 14, 2005. Officials endorse this concept, but acknowledge that schools have input in this as determined by scheduling of their games as well.
2nd BkAC (10-Approve as amended) March 21, 2005
2nd ADAC (No Action Taken) April 6, 2005. ADAC maintains its position that the availability and number of active officials are concerns.

C. BkAC Recommendations (Effective for 2006-07, if Passed by Board of Directors)
Listed below are the recommendations proposed, active for the 2006-2007 season, as a result of the meeting:

RECOMMENDATION #1
205.03 Regional Tournament
Regional should be divided into 3 sections and separate awards for each winner
Withdrawn by Kershner in support of alternate proposal

RECOMMENDATION #2
205.03 Regional Tournament
Rename each round of the regional tournament: regional (quarterfinal), sectional (semifinal) and super-sectional (final) and award trophies for each round (to be purchased at school’s discretion).
Motioned by Cox / 2nd by Pereira
1st BkAC Rdg (10-0 Approve) March 21, 2005
1st ADAC Rdg (4-4 Defeated) April 6, 2005.

RECOMMENDATION #3
204.03 District Meetings / Tournaments
All district hosts must provide: programs of teams, security for each team and adult scorer and timer.
Withdrawn by Kershner in support of staff placing these items on the agenda for district planning meetings.

RECOMMENDATION #4
Regional Tournament Sites
The regional championship game shall be played at a neutral site.
Motioned by Iulucci / 2nd by Dunn
1st BkAC Rdg (10-0 Approve) March 21, 2005
1st ADAC Rdg (8-0 Deny) April 6, 2005. Logistical and administrative concerns, including added substantial expense.

RECOMMENDATION #5
Sanctioning
FHSAA shall sanction exposure camps/events during the school year.
(No Action Taken) March 21, 2005

RECOMMENDATION #6
Officials Evaluations
FHSAA design an evaluation form to be submitted electronically, with 24 hours of completion of any regional basketball game.
Motioned by Bolin / 2nd Cox
1st BkAC Rdg (10-0 Approved) March 21, 2005
1st ADAC Rdg (8-0 Deny) April 6, 2005. Opportunity for input already exists.

RECOMMENDATION #7
Mercy Rule
Stop the clock during all free-throw administration.
Motioned by Ruszkowski / 2nd by Pereira
1st BkAC Rdg (5-5 Defeated) March 21, 2005

D. FACA Recommendations
FACA submitted no recommendations.

VI. Discussion
• Calendar – Staff reviewed the new calendar as adopted by the Board of Directors. Changes affecting basketball include starting the season and ending the season one week earlier. This will also alleviate some of the conflicts in athletic competition with the FCAT testing dates.
• Email submitted by Iulicci – The committee discussed concerns regarding various schools hosting regional tournament games as it relates to admission and ticket-taking. When hosts decide to stop selling tickets varies greatly and this has an adverse affect on the shares that visiting school received as a result of doing so. Other items contained in Coach Iulucci’s email were addressed within the discussions of the recommendations.
• Videotapes at Finals – Staff requested the committee to consider the practice of requiring schools qualifying for the Final Four tournament to bring copies of their previous games to share with opposing coaches, as practiced in football. The committee will revisit this issue in the next meeting.
• Officials’ Compensation / Training Component – Staff informed the committee that officials association which include a training/educational component in their by-laws and practice, that those associations will be eligible for a raise in officiating fees.
• JV Transfer Rule – Staff updated the committee on by-law amendments relative to transfers and the residency rule as proposed by the commissioner.

Mr. Kershner adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.