Officials Advisory Committee

Minutes
September 11, 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, Sept. 11, 2006 at 10 a.m. Those members present were: Elaine Almond (Volleyball, Sec. 2), Tony De Mello (Softball, Sec. 4), Tim Estes (Basketball, Sec. 4), Pat Fairfax (Wrestling, Sec. 1), 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), Mike Knowles (Baseball, Sec. 3/NFOA Representative), Grant Merrill, Sr. (Soccer, Sec. 1), Beryl Napoleon (Basketball, Sec. 1), 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), Alvis Summers (Basketball, Sec. 2) and Joe Underwood (Football, Sec. 4).

FHSAA staff members present were: John Stewart, Commissioner; Denarvise Thornton, Senior Director of Athletic Operations & Officials; Paul McLaughlin, Director of Athletics; Gary Pigott, Associate Director of Athletics; Tamara J. Forrester, Associate Director of Athletics; Shanell Young, Associate Director of Athletics; Jamie Watkins, Associate Director of Athletics; Carrie Hardee, Officials Registrar; Al Danklefsen, Assistant Technology Services Coordinator; Alex Bouldrick, FHSAA Intern; and Justin Johns, FHSAA Intern.

Members not in attendance were: Randy Abbott (Basketball, Sec. 3), Ben Buckner (Baseball, Sec. 2), Stephen Farinacci (Soccer, Sec. 3), Dan Hector (Softball, Sec. 3), and Larry Norton (Softball, Sec. 2).


I. Welcome, Introductions, Purpose
M. Denarvise Thornton called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. He welcomed the committee members and introduced himself to them and reminded them of their duty to officials in their sections and how the committee works. There were brief introductions of the FHSAA staff and officials in attendance. Dr. Stewart gave a brief review of the Jessica Lunsford Act and how it affects officials. Beginning last October, when an official went through a school board to get fingerprinted, they should have been placed in a statewide database and issued an identifying number to show other counties that they are in compliance. The secondary counties may use this number to search for the individual in the FDLE shared database.

II. The committee elected Mike Parks as Chairperson. The current agenda and amended minutes from the Mar. 6, 2006 meeting were approved. The amendment was for Recommendation 14, and the words “to omit” are to be stricken from the minutes.

III. The NFHS provided all state high school associations a DVD on the NFHS Rules-Writing Process. The committee was able to view the 5-minute presentation. The DVD is an informational piece that explains the process by which a rule proposal becomes approved for use in high school competition. Any association that would like a copy, may request one from the FHSAA.

IV. The nomination procedures for the NFOA Recognition Awards were presented by Mrs. Forrester and Mr. Knowles. The award information was emailed to all association president’s and placed on the FHSAA web site. The deadline for this year’s nominations is October 13.

V. Committee Reports

A. Baseball
No agenda items. Discussion of mandating the utilization of 3 umpires during the regular season.

B. Basketball
No agenda items. Discussion of mandating the utilization of 3 officials at all varsity games.

C. Football
Items for Discussion Only:
• Increase in mileage rate maximum to equal the IRS rate for reimbursement during the regular season and to allow up to 2 cars in football.
• Concern with the closed-book exam going to 50 questions. Please see more under open discussion.

D. Soccer
Recommendation # 1
Eliminate the phrase, “non-contact with opponent” as in the FHSAA Officials Guidebook s. 1006.04 and disqualify violators for one game.
AMENDED: Strike 1006.04(7) from the FHSAA Officials Guidebook, and return to NFHS protocol.
MOTION: Stemple/2nd Fredrickson
OAC 1st Reading: 26-0 Approved
ADAC 1st Reading: 9-0 Disapproved
OAC 2nd Reading: 21-0 Approved

Items for Discussion Only:
• Mandate play to 35-minutes for JV soccer matches.
• Research dual training programs to help in assisting with implementation of the double-dual system.
• Addition of a 4th official to state series championship games. Will create wording for action at the March meeting.
• Standardized roster will be placed on the FHSAA web site.

E. Softball
No action items. Discussion of the officials’ evaluation process. The request to use 43 feet as the pitching distance for the second year will go to the NFHS if approved at the October Board of Directors meeting.

F. Volleyball
No action items. Discussed the implementation of the libero serving and proper scoring.

G. Wrestling
Recommendation # 2
Increase fees for Individually Bracketed Tournaments (IBT’s) to $3.50 per match.
AMENDED: Increase fees for individually Bracketed Tournaments (IBT”S) to a fee based on current varsity dual meet rate divided by the number of weight classes to determine the fee per match.
MOTION: Puleo/2nd Hoppey
OAC 1st Reading: 21-0 Approved as amended

Recommendation # 3
Require coaches to sign bout sheets of winning wrestlers instead of the wrestlers.
MOTION withdrawn.

Recommendation # 4
Utilize 2 mats for finals and a 5:30 p.m. start to allow travel time home for individuals and teams at the regional level. Will be handled administratively.
MOTION withdrawn.

Recommendation # 5
Allow weigh-ins by team at tournaments or require weigh-in cards for all tournaments.
AMENDED: Utilize (require) weigh-in cards for all tournaments. Will work with Paul McLaughlin for administrative assistance.
MOTION: Fairfax/2nd Knowles
OAC 1st Reading: 21-0 Approved

VI. General Recommendations
Recommendation # 6
Modify the requirement that the written exam be taken every two years for veteran officials who have at least five years officiating experience on a varsity level and in good standing in their respective sport.
MOTION withdrawn.

Recommendation # 7
FHSAA needs to offer an incentive to officials who register early.
MOTION: Kelchner/2nd Almond
OAC 1st READING: 11-10 Approved

VII. Open Discussion
1. The minimum score to officiate varsity contest is 75. The new testing procedures only allow for a score of a 74 or 76. Mr. Thornton discussed how he handled requests for use of officials who earned a 74. The process will remain status quo and be monitored.
2. Meeting structure for Officials Association. The FHSAA is looking at how to best serve the members of the advisory committees. An Ad Hoc Committee was created to review the training and meeting guideline curriculum last meeting: Underwood, Gleason, Fairfax, Almond, Estes, and Norton.
Recruiting Officials: An Ad Hoc Committee was created to help develop a campaign to promote officiating: Fredrickson, Puleo, and Forrester. Both committees will meet after today’s meeting.
3. Registration Late Fees: Mr. Fairfax explained that all associations are trying to keep people interested in officiating, yet the FHSAA assesses late fees associated with registration deadline dates that are well in advance of the season. Some committee members suggested the deadline dates be moved closer to the beginning of the season to aid in on-time registration.
4. FHSAA Rules Presentations: There was a request by Mr. Merrill for the FHSAA to keep the online rules presentation available to all for credit without regard to ending dates.
5. Mr. Fredrickson thanked the FHSAA for the use of technology and current advancements to help educate local officials associations. The availability on the FHSAA web site of the Illegal Helmet Contact streaming video by NATA has been well received by the football community.
6. Officials Leadership Conference will be in Orlando at the Airport Marriott and a local school on June 1-2, 2007.
7. Championship Rings: FHSAA is paying for the cast to an FHSAA Finals ring for all sports. Finals officials may purchase the rings at their own expense.
8. Mr. Thornton discussed the current policy on creating “new” officials associations and how the FHSAA has been handling requests.

VIII. The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.