MIAA GAME OFFICIALS

FALL 2010 NEWSLETTER

From the Assistant Director… What, if any, are the conclusions or lessons learned that apply to you and I as Massachusetts high school game officials? I offer “Bad refereeing decisions are often in the eye of the some thoughts, in no particular order: beholder.” (Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor) • The “Belichikian” defense, “it is what it is”! • Video replay on the high school level, “is not going to be Summer of discontent? Summer haze? Or Summer daze?! walking through that door” anytime soon.

• Note that an unqualified and emotional admission of a How else do you explain, arguably the two of the “worst” game “kicked call”, earned Joyce considerable respect and official’s calls in history occurring during the summer solstice? empathy. • How important is that working relationship (a.k.a. mutual As an appetizer the “June Swoon” of game officials’ credibility respect) with coaches and players? began with the infamous perfect‐game‐that‐was‐not‐a‐ • High School soccer suffers as a result of the apparently perfect game. Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Armando Galarraga, obligatory rite of the player‐crumpling‐to‐the‐pitch‐as‐ with two outs in the ninth inning squeezed the in his mitt, though‐he/she‐has‐been‐shot‐though‐he/she‐was‐barely‐ then stepped on first base with his right foot and was ready to celebrate his “perfect” game. Umpire Jim Joyce had a different touched moment. “view”. He emphatically called Cleveland Indians’ Jason • Position, position, position! Donald…….sssaaaaaafe….denying Galarraga and the Tigers a perfect game. Understandably the you‐know‐what hit the proverbial fan. The self‐righteous print and electronic The outstanding official understands the big picture. He/she media, from the elite and indispensable, (in their own minds), to knows that positioning, conditioning, preparation, and command the bottom feeders looking to make a name for themselves, of the rules, all factors that are under our personal control, launched into a feeding frenzy, “attacking increase our chances to call that “perfect game”. If maximum Joyce and crying for The Commish to overturn the call and make effort is given to each of these areas, and a call is “kicked”, then “it the perfect game “official”. Not. is what it is”‐‐‐part of the game, and a lesson learned.

Joyce tearfully apologized for the blown call and Galarraga proved The MIAA and our member schools value good officials. The to be a man of character and compassion, by his outstanding importance of the role of the game official in establishing the exhibition of sportsmanship, consoling Joyce and publicly proper contest environment, in setting the standards of minimizing the impact of his now‐infamous call. sportsmanship and “fair play” cannot ever be overestimated.

And then came the World Cup! Where does one start? Which, of We thank you for your renewed commitment to our student many, referee’s decisions during the tournament can be called the athletes during the 2010‐2011 school year as they compete in “the “worst”? The consensus seems to be Frank Lampard’s disallowed game of life”. for England against Germany, called by one pundit, “…one of the most horrifically bad pieces officiating in World Cup history”. ‐Bill McGuirk Locally however, the “phantom foul” that disallowed the potentially winning goal in the USA’s 2‐2 opening round draw against Slovenia, seems to warrant consideration for the dubious distinction of “most horrific”.

If you would like to communicate with us, please use the following means: Phil Napolitano: pnapolitano@miaa. (508) 541-9814 Bill McGuirk: [email protected] (508) 541-9810

Concussion Rules

NEW MIAA CONCUSSION RULES:

56.4 Any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion(such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health‐care professional.

56.4.1 School and athletic leaders are reminded that and ice have rules regarding health care professionals.

56.4.2 Each school must define the health care professional(s) and/or procedure(s) that must be satisfied before an athlete is allowed to return to participation. The individual(s) and/or procedure(s) must be in place for all student athletes, sports and levels.

NEW NFHS SOCCER “CONCUSSION RULE” (Rule 3; Section 3; Art. 1 c(3)

When a player is injured and removed from the field: 1. Same as 2009‐2010 2. Same as 2009‐2010 3. New for 2010‐2011: Any player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health‐care professional.

NFHS SOCCER CONCUSSION RULE INTERPRETATION:

NFHS Assistant Director Mark Koski, confirmed the NFHS interpretation that once a player has been removed from a contest for exhibiting symptoms of a concussion described above, it is the responsibility of that player’s coach/school/health‐care professional to follow the return‐to‐play protocols established by the school, in order to determine whether or not the student athlete is cleared to return to play.

MGL CHAPTER 111 AMENDMENT / “Emergency Law” Excerpts:

“An Act Relative to Safety Regulations for School Athletic Programs”. “Whereas, the deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to enhance forthwith the public health of school athletes, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health‐‐‐Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 11 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Concussion Rules

Section 222. “…(c) If a student participating in an extracurricular athletic activity becomes unconscious during a practice or competition, the student shall not return to the practice or competition during which the student became unconscious or participate in any extracurricular athletic activity until the student provides written authorization for such participation, from a licensed physician, licensed neuropsychologist, certified athletic trainer or other appropriately trained or licensed health care professional as determined by the department of public health, to the school’s athletic director.

If a student suffers a concussion as diagnosed by a medical professional, or is suspected of having suffered a concussion while participating in an extracurricular athletic activity, the student shall not return to the practice or competition during which the student became suffered, or is suspected to have suffered, a concussion and shall not participate in any extracurricular athletic activity until the student provides written authorization for such participation, from a licensed physician, licensed neuropsychologist, certified athletic trainer or other appropriately trained or licensed health care professional as determined by the department of public health, to the school’s athletic director. (Editor’s note: This legislation was approved by the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives and enacted by Governor Deval Patrick at 5:01 p.m. on July 19, 2010)

GAME OFFICIALS AND “RETURN TO PLAY” (RTP)

It is important to note, after digesting all of the above concussion information, that the rules and legislation puts the responsibility entirely on the school; to have all the parties identified in the legislation trained; to determine who qualifies as the “appropriate health care professional”; and to develop in‐house procedures, including but not limited to securing head injury history, pre‐testing, post‐testing, physical exam, RTP sign‐off document, etc..

In summary the game official’s responsibilities are:

• The official IS responsible for removing a “player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion” from the field.

• The game official has been “relieved” of the previous responsibility of asking for the written clearance to RTP by a physician.

• The game official is NOT responsible to determine whether or not a school (Coach, trainer, etc.) have or have not followed their school’s RTP procedures.

• If that player returns to the scorer’s table or line to RTP, the official ASSUMES that they have appropriately cleared the player to return, and beckons the player back onto the field.

Concussion Resources

The following represents a menu of FREE and credible materials/resources for administrators, coaches, parents and student athletes:

NATIONAL FEDERATION ‐ www.nfhslearn.com • Free on‐line concussion course (What you need to know) • Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports brochure (Click here to view brochure) • Concussions – NFHS Sports Medicine Handbook • A Parent’s Guide to Concussions in Sports

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL ‐ www.cdc.gov/concussion • CDC Resources on Concussions: o Facts about Concussion and Brain Injury: Where to Get Help o Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice initiative o Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports initiative o Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports initiative o Heads Up: Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) o Help Seniors Live Better, Longer: Prevent Brain Injury initiative

BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS (BIA‐MA) – www.biama.org

• Prevention Programs include: o Brains at Risk o Gateway o Think A Head o Keys o Falls o Jose and Maria • Sport Concussion Cards • DVD’s for athletes, parents & coaches–excellent resource for pre‐season meetings

MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY (MMS) – www.massmed.org

• Concussion / A Coach’s Guide for Sideline Evaluations (Concussion Education Brochure)

2010 Fall Sport Rule Changes

Field Hockey

Until the ball is played, ALL players except the player taking the center pass must remain in their own half of the field. Opposing players must be at least 7 yards from the ball until it is played.

Football – Wedge Block Rule Revised

A wedge is defined as two or more players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other. Two‐ player wedges remain legal, but the formation of three or more players in a wedge is now a foul that results in a 15‐yard penalty.

It also will be considered a live‐ball foul, regardless of whether there is contact between opponents. The penalty will be marked from the spot of the foul or from the spot of where the kick returner was tackled if it is behind the spot where the illegal wedge was formed.

Soccer

3‐3‐1c (new): Time for Substitutions: either team may substitute an unlimited numbers of players from the bench: a. between periods; b. when a goal is scored; c. when a player is injured and removed from the field.

Volleyball

Ball Crossing the Net (“Pursuit” Rule). If a ball has crossed to the opponent’s free zone that is pursuable per this rule, a player is no longer restricted from crossing under the net or net cable to retrieve the ball. Rationale: Other rule codes that have allowed this play have not reported a significant injury rate to players making this play, and have stated that a high percentage of successful retrievals are made by players using this path. If one of the most exciting plays in the game of can be allowed without increased injury exposure, the rules should not prohibit it.

GAME OFFICIAL FEES

Game officials’ fees for 2010‐2011 are the same as 2009‐2010. There will be a one dollar increase in officials fees for 2011‐2012.

For full list of Fall sport rule revisions, please CLICK HERE (http://www.miaa.net/sport­rule­revisions.htm)

Assignors/Commissioners of Game Officials Pre­Season Mandatory Meeting

PRE‐REGISTRATION REQUIRED (see below)

Rule 90.18: All officials' assignors/commissioners engaged by member schools and/or leagues to assign officials to MIAA contests will be required to attend an annual pre‐ season meeting with MIAA staff.

Purpose: To promote the concept of education‐based athletics with an emphasis on consistent enforcement of MIAA and sport rules, to develop a better understanding of the game official’s role in promoting sportsmanship, and to improve the communication between game official assignors/commissioners and the MIAA.

Format: The MIAA will conduct an evening pre‐season meeting prior to each sport season at the MIAA office in Franklin, MA. Assignors/Commissioners will be expected to pre‐register with the MIAA. A capacity enrollment figure will be determined and when reached, registrations will be closed. A light buffet dinner will be served at 6:00 PM and the general session will start at 6:30 PM.

Agenda Items:

• Welcome and Introductions

• MIAA Technology Update

• New Rules for 2009‐2011

• Assignor/Commissioner’s Sport‐Specific Breakout Sessions

• Wrap‐Up/General Session

Meeting Dates: (only need to attend ONE meeting)

Fall: Thursday, August 26th, 2010 Winter: Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 Spring: Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

MIAA Game Officials Enrollment

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

• The partnership between and among game officials, the MIAA and member school administrators, coaches, and student athletes, especially the shared responsibility to promote sportsmanship and respect, is the fundamental component of a successful interscholastic athletic program.

• Enrollment with the MIAA is NOT solely for the purpose of eligibility to officiate MIAA sponsored tournament contests. The primary purpose of enrollment IS to establish the aforementioned partnership with the organization whose member schools, either individually or through their league assignors/commissioners, independently contract with game officials for individual services during regular season contests.

• Enrollment with the MIAA provides individual officials with access to MIAA sponsored programs, including but not limited to, pre‐season sport‐specific dinner meetings, seasonal assignors/commissioners dinner meetings, a seasonal Game Officials’ Newsletter, eligibility to be nominated to serve as a voting member of a specific statewide MIAA sport committee, seasonal updates on rule changes and MIAA individual sport rule modifications, and eligibility for assignment to officiate MIAA sponsored tournament contests.

ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY

• To be eligible to enroll, a game official MUST be a member in good standing of an MIAA recognized board/chapter of officials. A member in good standing is defined as an individual who has satisfied his/her local board membership requirements, which may include attendance criteria, professional development participation (e.g. interpretation meetings, rule refresher exams/clinics, etc.), and ethics standards.

TYPES of ENROLLMENT

Board Enrollment

• An officials’ board may choose to enroll their members with the MIAA as an entire group at a reduced cost of six dollars ($6) per member.

• In choosing this option, to be eligible for the reduced enrollment fee of six dollars ($6) per member, the officials’ board agrees to enroll one‐hundred percent (100%) of their members who officiate high school contests AT ANY/ALL LEVELS, varsity and sub‐varsity.

• A board which enrolls any less than one‐hundred percent of their members who officiate high school contests at any/all levels, (e.g. selectively enrolling only those who officiate varsity contests, or those with a minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience, etc.), must pay the full twelve dollar ($12) per individual enrollment fee.

• Board seasonal enrollment deadlines, established to ensure the enrollment process is completed prior to the beginning of each sport season, are as follows:

o FALL ‐‐ August 1st

o WINTER ‐‐ November 1st

o SPRING ‐‐ March 1st

*Enrollments submitted after the deadline without prior MIAA approval will be assessed a one dollar ($1) per official late fee.

Individual Enrollment • A game official whose board does not enroll their membership as a group under the conditions stated above, is eligible to enroll as an individual at the cost of twelve dollars ($12) per sport.

• An individual game official who is a member in good standing of an out‐of‐ state board (e.g. New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, etc.), may enroll with the MIAA and be eligible for assignment for MIAA tournament contests provided he/she will have officiated a minimum of ten (10) Massachusetts regular season high school varsity contests, and/or, who satisfies the requirements established by the respective MIAA sport committee.

Contest Officials’ Code of Ethics

In 2001, the Officiating Development Alliance, a group of individuals representing various officiating organizations, such as the NFHS, NCAA, ASA, USSF, the NFL, NBA, MLB and NASO, developed the Code of Conduct for Sports Officials. The Code outlines the personal responsibilities officials have to the game.

1. Officials shall bear a great responsibility for engendering public confidence in sports.

2. Officials shall be free of obligation to any interest other than the impartial and fair judging of sports competitions.

3. Officials shall hold and maintain the basic tenets of officiating which include history, integrity, neutrality, respect, sensitivity professionalism, discretion and tactfulness.

4. Officials shall master both rules of the game and mechanics necessary to enforce the rules, and shall exercise authority in an impartial, firm and controlled manner.

5. Officials shall uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with student‐athletes, coaches, school administrators, colleagues and the public.

6. Officials shall display and execute superior communication skills, both verbal and non‐verbal.

7. Officials shall recognize that anything, which may lead to a conflict of interest, either real or apparent, must be avoided. Gifts, favors, special treatment, privileges, employment or a personal relationship with a school or team, which can compromise the perceived impartiality of officiating, must be avoided.

8. Officials shall prepare themselves both physically and mentally, shall dress neatly and appropriately, and shall comport themselves in a manner consistent with the high standards of the profession.

9. Officials shall not be party to actions designed to unfairly limit or restrain access to officiating, officiating assignments or to association membership. This includes selection for positions of leadership based upon economic factors, race, creed, color, age, sex, physical handicap, country or national origin.

10. Officials shall be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all contractual obligations.

11. Officials shall work with each other and their governing bodies in a constructive and cooperative manner.

12. Officials shall resist every temptation and outside pressure to use one’s position as an official to benefit oneself.

13. Officials shall never participate in any form of illegal gambling on a sports contest, may never gamble on any sporting event in which they have either a direct or indirect involvement, and may never gamble on events involving high school athletics.

14. Officials shall not make false or misleading statements regarding their qualifications, rating, credentials, experience, training or competence.

15. Officials shall accept responsibility for all actions taken.

MASSACHUSETTS INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 33 Forge Parkway

Franklin, MA 02038

Phone: 508-541-7997 Fax: 508-541-9888 email: [email protected] www.miaa.net