Officials Advisory Committee

Minutes
March 6, 2006 • 10 a.m.
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building
Gainesville, Florida


The Officials Advisory Committee met at the Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building on Monday, Mar. 6, 2006 at 10 a.m. Those members present were: Randy Abbott (Basketball, Sec. 3); Elaine Almond (Volleyball, Sec. 2); Elliot Blake (Volleyball, Sec. 4); Tim Estes (Basketball, Sec. 4); Pat Fairfax (Wrestling, Sec. 1); Stephen Farinacci (Soccer, Sec. 3); Carlos Fenn (Volleyball, Sec. 3); Stephen Fredrickson (Football, Sec. 1); Candy Gleason (Soccer, Sec. 2); Butch Goble (Baseball, Sec. 4); David Hoppey (Football, Sec. 2); Helen Kelchner (Volleyball, Sec. 1); Diane Kendall (Softball, Sec. 1); Grant Merrill Sr. (Soccer, Sec. 1); Beryl Napoleon (Basketball, Sec. 1); Larry Norton (Softball, Sec. 2); Michael Parks (Baseball, Sec. 1); Thomas Powers (Football, Sec. 3); Mike Puleo (Wrestling, Sec. 3); Don Smith (Wrestling, Section 4); Newman Stemple (Soccer, Sec. 4); and Joe Underwood (Football, Sec. 4). Guests in attendance were Don Flynn, ASEP; Ed Whipple, former member; and Ernie Modugno, Naples High School Athletic Director.

FHSAA staff members present were: John Stewart, Commissioner; Sonny Hester, Associate Commissioner for Compliance, Eligibility and Athletic Operations; Denarvise Thornton, Senior Director of Athletics for Athletic Operations; Paul McLaughlin, Director of Athletics; Gary Pigott, Associate Director of Athletics; Tamara J. Wilsey, Associate Director of Athletics; Shanell Young, Associate Director of Athletics; Jamie Watkins, Associate Director of Athletics; Carrie Hardee, Athletics Registrar; and Michelle Owens, Intern.

Members not in attendance were: Ben Buckner (Baseball, Sec. 2); Tony De Mello, Jr. (Softball, Sec. 4); Dan Hector (Softball, Sec. 3); Mike Knowles (Baseball, Sec. 3/Florida Representative to NFOA); and Alvis Summers (Basketball, Sec. 2).

I. Welcome, Introductions, Purpose
Denarvise Thornton called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. He welcomed the committee members and introduced himself to them, giving a brief history of the Officials Advisory Committee and the group’s responsibility during the meeting. There were brief introductions of the FHSAA staff and officials in attendance.

II. The committee elected Grant Merrill as Chairperson. The current agenda and amended minutes from the Sept. 12, 2005 meeting were approved. The amendment was to section IV changing the wording of the Technical Assistant Paper to Technical Assistance Paper.

III. Don Flynn, Officiating Program Consultant for American Sport Education Program (ASEP), provided a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation and tutorial on the NFHS Officials Education Program to the committee. Possible ways Florida can incorporate the NFHS Officials Education Program were also expressed. Mr. Thornton asked the committee members to take some time and think about the possibility of utilizing this program to help better train our officials.

IV. An update on the Jessica Lunsford Act was given by Dr. Stewart. Our lobbyist says that there are no pending changes to report on the Act as required. The upcoming session may provide some changes, but none that we are aware of are being presented. Dr. Stewart commended the committee and thanked them for complying with the law and working through the local school boards and the challenges that they faced. He is confident that the Legislature will help fix the issue of needing to be fingerprinted in more than one county when local associations service two or more. The FHSAA was thanked for the rebate extended to officials this year.

V. Ernie Modugno, Athletic Director of Naples High School, spoke to the subject of Ancillary Fees that are being charged in his area by the local officials association. There was discussion about possibly setting maximum ancillary fees by the FHSAA in addition to the maximum game fees already in place. The ability to negotiate is difficult in Mr. Modugno’s area due to geographic hardship. Other officials expressed how things are done in their areas and some of the unique situations and costs that occur in officiating as an avocation. Mr. Fairfax made a suggestion to the FHSAA to become an arbitrator when it comes to areas that need help in negotiating with what seems like a “monopoly” situation.

VI. Committee Reports

A. Baseball
Recommendation # 1
With support for softball, the committee recommends “if officials associations have sufficient manpower, crews of 3 umpires will be mandatory for a minimum of 3 regular season games.”
MOTION: Fairfax/ 2nd Underwood
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approve

B. Basketball
Recommendation # 2
Allow an assistant coach to assume the same privileges as the head coach, including use of the coaching box, after a head coach’s ejection.
MOTION: Powers/ 2nd Fairfax
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Deny

C. Football
Recommendation # 3
To utilize 7-man crews starting in the second round of playoffs.
MOTION: Underwood/2nd Fredrickson
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approve
To FAST TRACK for this year.
MOTION: Fredrickson/2nd Underwood
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approve

Recommendation # 4
Request an NFHS experiment to implement a Sideline Safety Rule statewide for 2-yards around the entire perimeter of the field. Penalties for infringement are as currently written by the NFHS. Data will be collected.
MOTION: Norton/ 2nd Powers
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approve
To FAST TRACK for this year.
MOTION: Underwood/2nd Fredrickson
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approve

Recommendation # 5
Football clock operators also keep record of down and distance, etc. on the scoreboard.
MOTION: Underwood/ 2nd Fredrickson
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Deny

Recommendation # 6
At state series events, media personnel should be educated on the Sideline Safety Procedures.
MOTION withdrawn for FHSAA to review and address administratively.

D. Soccer
No action items.

E. Softball
No action items. See baseball for an action item.

F. Volleyball
No action items.
Would like to get more clarification on the coach being allowed to stand according to the NFHS.

G. Wrestling
Recommendation # 7
Due to a Board approved a core-teaching faculty for wrestling rules clinics once every 3 years, the recommendation of a change in the multiple field clinic concept for wrestling back to a single site field clinic was withdrawn.
MOTION withdrawn.
Items for discussion only:
• Utilize 2 mats for finals and a 5:30 PM start to allow travel time home for individuals and teams at the regional level. Will be handled administratively.
• Increase fees for IBT’s to $3.50.
Allow weigh-ins by team at tournaments or require weigh-in cards for all tournaments. Will work with Mr. McLaughlin for administrative assistance.
• Require coaches to sign bout sheets of winning wrestlers instead of the wrestlers.

VII. General Recommendations
Recommendation # 8
Require officials to submit to the FHSAA any doctor’s notes for competition within 48 hours of the contest.
MOTION withdrawn. FHSAA to seek legal counsel on the issue.
Recommendation # 9
The FHSAA to offer one (1) night lodging (minimum 4 rooms in football), plus ECO, to any assigned crew from outside the host county at the state finals. If more than 200 miles, one way, offer them two (2) nights lodging.
MOTION: Gleason/2nd Fairfax. Staff to handle administratively and with fiscal responsibility, as they currently do.
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approve
Recommendation # 10
Utilize crews as submitted. Use the top crews in ranked order.
MOTION no action.
Dr. Stewart asked Mr. Merrill to help organize options in how to submit postseason play-off recommendation lists for each sport by each committee member to their respective Athletic Director.
The committee will meet at the Official’s Leadership Conference in June to discuss their findings.
Recommendation # 11
To develop a 3-5 year plan for increasing fees so that Florida high school officials are in the top 1/3 of all states nationwide in terms of compensation.
MOTION: Almond/2nd Fairfax
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approved
Recommendation # 12
1) Accommodate on-line registration withdrawals.
2) Do away with fines for not taking tests.
3) Do not prevent officials from taking the exam in another sport until the fine is paid.
MOTION failed.
Recommendation # 13
Restructure the mileage/travel allowance for regional and state playoffs.
Dr. Stewart and the FHSAA staff will accept the challenge of coming up with a solution.
Recommendation # 14
Reword the FHSAA Officials Guidebook section 600. Numbers 3, 4, 5 replace the word “should” with “shall.” Modified to omit number 4 due to facility restraints and feasibility.
MOTION: Almond/2nd Fairfax
OAC 1st READING: 22-0 Approved

VIII. Open Discussion
1. Meeting structure for Officials Association: Develop an Ad Hoc Committee to review the training and meeting guideline curriculum: Underwood, Gleason, Fairfax, Almond, Estes, and Norton.
2. Unauthorized crew changes: Associations changing assignments during play-offs without the FHSAA knowledge. Committee mentioned fining the booking commissioner for the change without notification and a possible play-off ban for that association in that sport.
3. Predator Article: Article given to the committee as FYI on how the Jessica Lunsford Act affects officiating in south Florida.
4. Jessica Lunsford Act: Dr. Stewart pledged to reimburse registration fees for brand new officials.
5. FHSAA Open Book Exam: Mr. Underwood expressed concern for a procedure similar to the closed book exam for the associations, with a proctor. The need to review boys volleyball registration and testing for new officials will be done by FHSAA staff.
6. FHSAA Rules Clinics: Request for the FHSAA to allow a local Rules Interpreter to present the information via PowerPoint. Mr. McLaughlin reminded the group that the DVD will be catered more to the coach and/or official.
7. FHSAA Officials Handbook Reference: Mr. Underwood asked the FHSAA staff to change in ALL manuals the word “trainer” to “athletic trainer.”
8. Recruiting Officials: Sun Sports should do some PSA’s for all sports in their programming. An Ad Hoc Committee was created to help develop a campaign to promote officiating: Fredrickson, Puleo, and Wilsey.
A task force of all parties involved (schools, administrators, coaches, and officials) is requested for helping the committee.
9. Promoting Local Associations: Mr. Underwood asked for help in promoting local associations by doing press releases when available. Currently, state level is released from the FHSAA Office.
10. Athletic Care Professionals, Certified Athletic Trainers with Teams: Mr. Underwood wants to see the policy on team passes utilized to make sure an athletic trainer and team doctor be allowed access. FHSAA staff reminded the committee that the passes are for the school to distribute as they see fit.
11. State Series Passes: A request for a perk in the future for officials was a state series pass. The group was reminded that the pass allows access to all sport championships.
12. Field Clinics: Mr. Fredrickson asked if the FHSAA puts together a standardized curriculum on the actual items being taught. The answer is yes.
13. Officials Leadership Conference in Jacksonville Beach—June 2-3, 2006.

IX. The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.