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Summer 2008
"Doing the right thing isn't easy, but it is always right."
John Baxter FSU Asst Football Coach |
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 Election Time: There are THREE spots up for election for the Fiscal Year 2009. Full dues paying members in good standing in FY08 will have an opportunity to elect in the September 2008 Newsletter.
Self nominations are taking place. Just submit your name in writing to NCOA’s address or email ncoa@cds1.net or fax to (707)237-6832 to nominate yourself by August 20, 2008. The only requirement is that you have been a full dues paying member for the last three consecutive fiscal years.
On your “self nomination” indicate the following three items:
- Number of years officiating and/or umpiring for NCOA.
- Sport(s) you officiate for NCOA.
- Why you want to serve on the NCOA Board, a short statement.
These items will appear on the ballot to assist voters to decide whom to choose.
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NCOA News:
 (1) Getting Paid: Please do not contact Gary about your pay until 10 days after the end of the period. Gary will do his best to get checks or direct deposit out before then, but many factors influence when they can be done. It is highly recommended to get on Direct Deposit. Then no need to worry if the check was lost or being held by the Postal Service for no reason like what happened in early May.
(2) Dues for Fiscal Year 2009: The dues will remain $60.00 in Fiscal Year 2009 (October 1, 2008). There will be no additional dues for High School basketball officials (however, to referee high school basketball levels, meeting attendance and certification will be required). Baseball and softball umpires will also be receiving additional educational materials.
Exception to this will be ASA (slow pitch) umpires since ASA Dues are approximately $45, your NCOA dues will cover $10 of it, so there will be an additional $35 for ASA umpires.
(3) Equal Opportunity Policy: NCOA is an Equal Opportunity Association that accepts officials without discrimination as to race, color, creed, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. However, officials and umpires must demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in the application of the rules and must be physically and mentally capable to officiate or umpire assigned games.
(4) Minimum Standards: Officials who meet the minimum standards (meeting(s) and passing the yearly rules review exam (max 3 attempts)) will move up one experience year for that sport, with a maximum of 12 years.
An NCOA member will be fined $25 for missing a meeting with a maximum of two mandatory meetings per sport and a $25 fine for not taking and passing the “sport” test by the stated date on the test instructions.
NCOA sports are defined as:
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- High School Baseball/Softball
- Summer Softball and
- Summer Baseball.
Officials who do not meet the minimum standards are not eligible to work high school post-season games.
New starting FY2009: An official failing to meet minimum standards will also be reduced to 1st Year Experience Pay, as noted above.
(5) Game Time Arrival: Officials and umpires must be at their assigned location a minimum of 15 minutes before scheduled start time or they will be considered late. Good officials and umpires should plan to be at the game site 30 to 45-minutes prior to game time.
Upon arrival check in with the home coach or site director letting him/her know “the officials or umpire(s) have arrived.” Then go back to your locker room (car) and get ready for the game.
If your partner does not arrive 15 minutes prior to game time, call or have someone call Jerry. Tell Jerry or the message machine:
- Who you are,
- Your location, and
- That your partner is absent.
(6) Work Alone Policy: If you work alone and you’re suppose to have a partner, you will receive 11/2 game fee at the stated rate. This does not apply to leagues that provide volunteers.
If you do not call Jerry and advise him that your partner is late and you work one or several games by yourself, you will not be paid the extra 1/2 time for working “alone.” This will not apply if there is no phone at the site you are working or no partner is assigned due to lack of officials.
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Basketball News:
 (1) Upcoming Camps: Sonoma County Basketball Officials Camp @ Healdsburg High School - Varsity Girls - August 1st, 2nd and 3rd - $140
And
Basketball Officials Camp in Walnut Creek at Tice Valley Community Center - Varsity Boys - July 18, 19 & 20 - $150. Both Camps will offer the opportunity to learn and work 3-person mechanics. Contact Ruben Candelaria for more info - (707) 483-6039 or email: rubo451@sbcglobal.net .......... NCOA Officials will receive a $10 discount. If you want to attend both Camps - $225
Also...
Best High School Officials Camp - August 1, 2 & 3 at St Mary's college in Moraga. For more info visit: www.bhsoc.net
(2) 2008/2009 Season Around the Corner: It is July and hot, but September is near which means the start of another exciting basketball season. The below are the meeting and clinic dates for this year.
Please make note of the following:
- When there are multiple dates for a meeting/clinic, you have a choice of which date to attend.
- Everyone will be required to pay $20 (portion of your $60 FY2009 dues) to receive materials at the first meeting (no exceptions! NO EXCEPTIONS!!! DON’T ask!). No money means no materials.
Mark your calendar(s) NOW.
Help recruit basketball officials – have them call Gary Frieders at (707) 237-5250
email: ncoa@cds1.net or check the NCOA Web site at: www.NorthernCoastOfficials.org
JH BkB Officials Meeting:
For Junior High Basketball Officials (any official working JH Basketball)
Sunday, September 7 – 6:00pm – 8:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
Monday, September 8 – 7:00pm - 9:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
Junior High Scrimmages – Required and Mandatory for ALL officials working JH Basketball:
--September 4, 5 and 6. Contact Jerry to get scheduled (707) 538-5190 after August 23, 2008.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL OFFICIAL MEETINGS and DUE DATES:
To officiate at the high school Frosh, JV and/or Varsity levels, you MUST
(a) attendance is required at the following meetings;
(b) passing the open book rules review exam; and
(c) passing the closed book certification exam in November.
1st High School Officials’ Meeting: Handout Materials, Rules and Mechanics:
Sunday, October 5th – 6:00pm – 8:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
Monday, October 6th – 7:00pm - 9:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
2nd High School Officials’ Meeting: Rule Review Groups
Between Oct 12 and Oct 25 at various locations as determined by the host.
High School Officials’ Due Dates:
First Half Availability submitted online by Friday, October 17, 2008.
Rules Review Answers submitted online by October 24th, 2008.
Second Half Availability submitted online by Friday, October 31, 2008.
3rd High School Officials’ Meeting: Rules Review – Discuss most missed questions; and Positioning
Sunday, October 26th – 6:00pm – 8:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
Monday, October 27th – 7:00pm - 9:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
4th High School Officials’ Meeting: Cert Exam and Game Management
Sunday, November 9th – 6:00pm – 8:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
Monday, November 10th – 7:00pm - 9:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
High School Officials Training Scrimmage Requirements:
Minimum 2 “training” scrimmages from November 15 to November 30 as scheduled
5th High School Officials’ Meeting: Mid-Season Meeting
Sunday, January 4th, 2008 – 6:00pm – 8:15pm @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
Monday, January 5th, 2008 – 7:00pm - 9:15pm @ @ University of Sports in Rohnert Park
CYO and Youth Basketball Meeting/Clinics – for All Youth Basketball Officials:
Sunday, November 23rd - 8:00am-Noon @ University of Sports – This will be the only meeting/clinic for CYO officials. All officials working CYO must attend this meeting clinic. Veteran officials (3+ years experience) working CYO MUST attend the first 90-minutes.
Saturday, Nov 29th and Sunday Nov, 30th – CYO Scrimmages in Rohnert Park – to be scheduled.
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Baseball and Softball News:
(1) Baseball Umpire Camp: The annual Between the Lines Umpire Camp at Sonoma State University will be September 19, 20 & 21. Call Ruben at (707) 483-6039 or email rubo451@sbcglobal.net. This is a great opportunity to get some quality and excellent instruction right in your backyard. For more info vist: www.northerncoastofficials.org/BTLUmpireCamp/
(2) Season Coming to an End: As we bring the 2008 Spring/Summer Umpire season to an end in late August, on behalf of the Board I want to thank those umpires who worked each any every game like it was a championship game. For the most part we received a lot of positive comments about the quality of the umpiring this past high school season and into the summer months – THANKS!
(3) High School Playoff Umpires: Congratulations to the following umpires who worked a League and/or NCS Playoff game for either baseball and/or softball: John Albrecht, Mark Barrall, Sean Beaton, Gerry Burr, Dennis Byrne, Laurie Carr, David Carter, David Clark IV, Bob Compton, Bob Crosat, Pernie Crowder, Chris Elze, Ruben Faria, Gary Frieders, Larry Long, Barry Machin, Lloyd Makilan, Rod Matteri, Terry McBroom, Brandon Montero, Bob Muehlbauer, Jim Nystrom, Dave Petersen, Dean Poteet, Garry Reichlmayr, John Seymour, Jerry Thompson and Roger Wilson.
(4) Something to Think About: Umpiring is: “Putting oneself in proper position to observe the action that one needs to rule upon before rendering a decision. Then rendering a correct decision because of being in proper position.”
(5) Be Positive: Be positive with everyone and everything involved in the game. Don’t add to a player’s misfortune such as:
• Obvious foul balls—Don’t say anything, just get a new ball back in play quickly.
• Swinging strike-outs—Just record the out, don’t ring it up with a strong voice and signal like a called strike-out.
• Catches—Say “that’s a catch,” not “batter’s out.” This is rewarding the defense for a good play.
• Obvious outs—If everyone in the stands saw the out, just record it. Don’t sell it like the close ones with a strong voice and signal.
(6) Timing: Timing is proper use of your eyes to see the entire play and then make a decision based on the information observed.
When the umpire’s timing is too fast it leaves him/her susceptible to hasty decisions. (Read that to say wrong calls.) Timing that is too slow can make one appear indecisive.
When working the plate strive for consistent timing so the players know when to expect the ball or strike call. You should make the ball/strike call between three fourths of a second and one second after the ball hits the catcher’s glove.
When working the bases strive for consistent timing so the players know when to expect the out or safe call. You should make the out/safe call about one second after the play is over. WARNING, WARNING WILL ROBINSON. See the whole play and some extreme cases may be more than a second and may even be two or three seconds. The key is, “One Play, One Call.”
(7) Division of Labor: On fly balls communicate with your partner who has the catch and who has the runners. An umpire has to watch the runner(s) touch the bases, it doesn’t take two umpires to watch the catch.
The umpire responsible for the catch MUST stay with the catch until it is a “legal” catch. Don’t be in a rush to say or signal “catch.” There is nothing worse then having the fielder drop the ball and you don’t know if it was a catch or no catch because you took your eyes off the play.
The umpire with the runners MUST watch runners touching the bases or tagging up legally. You should get in position first to see tag-ups, then watch the ball and once touched switch your vision back to the runner(s) tagging up. You’re not concerned with the catch because your partner is. You need only to be concerned when the fly ball is TOUCHED.
The only exception to this is a fly ball down a foul line which has a chance to leave the field or any fly which may bounce over an outfield fence, in which case all umpires are to watch the flight of the ball.
(8) Two Keys to a Good Umpire:
#1. Intensity: Hustle, focus and smart decisions.
#2. Instinct: Read and React. Know the game and what could potentially happen. Expect the unexpected.
Volleyball News:
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