National Wheelchair Basketball Association NEWSLETTER Otfle- 01 the CoIMIIHIonw 110 SHlon Building Unfwnlty olK,ntucky ..... VolUinC XXXIII December 28, 1993 Number 3

REGIONAL AND SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT national champions and will be seeking their SITES SET fourth consecutive title. Five other collegiate teams will be eligible to compete: University Bruce Russell, Chairman of the Tournament of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks; Southwest Selection Committee, has announced the State University (Marshall, MN) Broncos; selection of hosts and sites for the 1994 Temple Univo Rollin' Owls; University of Regional and Sectional Tournaments. All sites Illinois Fighting Il1ini; and Southern illinois have been confirmed except two remaining University Salukis. For further information, regionals in the Far West. We expect to have contact Jim Hayes, President of the Central those sites identified shortly. Intercollegiate Conference at Box 19348 UTA Station, Arlington, TX 76019, TeL (817) 273- EAST 3364 . Regionals (Mircll12-13 NEPVA in the Boston area WOMEN'S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT Cleveland Wheelchair Cavs DALLAS Ottawa Royals EPVA Chargers in the NY/NJarea The 20th National Women!s Wheelchair Sectionl March 26-27) Basketball Tournament will be held March 15- Richmond • VA 22 at North Lake CoUege in Irving, TX under the sponsorship of the Texas Heat. MIDWEST Tournament director is Jerry McCole, who Regionals may be reached at (214) 352-4100. Lafayette Spinners Kansas City Rolling Pioneers Eight women's teams are eligible to enter the Tulsa Rollin' Roustabouts tournament: Bay Area Meteorites; Minnesota Rockford Chariots Women 's Timberwolvesj Wright State Sectional University Lady Raiders; RIC ( Chicago) Grand Rapids, MI Express; Irvine Valley College Lasers i Southern California Sunrise; University of SOUTH Illinois Fighting Illini, and the host Texas Regionais Heat. Carolinas Tarwheels Houston Rolling Cougars Illinois is the defending NWWBT champion Lakeshore Pioneers, Birmingham, AL after its 48-47 win over the Timberwolves in Music City lightning. Nashville, TN the 1993 tournament held at Wright State Sectional University in Dayton, OH . The Illini have Nashville, TN captured the last three national titles.

FAR WEST UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS INAUGURATES Regionals ACEP PROGRAM Spokane Cyclones Fresno Red Rollers Arising out of an earlier commitment by the Two sites to be later identified. NWBA to focus on the training and deve lopment of coaches in wheelchair CA basketball , a coaching clinic was held at the UniversiLy of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign , NATIONALINTERCOLLEGlATETOURNAMENT October 22-24, 1993. The clinic was AT ARLINGTON conducted as part of the American Coaching Effectiveness Program (ACEP) initiated by The 1994 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Human Kinetics Publishing Company of Basketball Tournament will be held March 7-9 Champaign and which involves training in the at the Urrlversity of Texas-Arlington. The areas of sport sciences, sport first ajd, sport host UTA Mavin' Mavs are the defending techniques and tactics. The clinic has been 2 endorsed by the NWBA Executive Committee Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and the through the certification of Brad Hedrick and 1994 National IntercoUegiate Wheelchair Marty Morse of the University of Illinois to Basketball Tournament along with the 46th conduct it. Nine individuals took part in the NWB T . Each of the women! sand training related to wheelchair basketball. intercoUegiate tournaments will receive They are: $2,500, while the NWBT will receive $10,000 Karen Bertha, Wichita, KS as in past years. Ann Cody I Atlanta, GA Krista Hobbs! 5t . Louis, MO This year's sponsorship will mark the 20th Theresa Kelly J Boston. MA consecutive year of PVA involvement in Jeff Lyon, Chicago, II. postseason play. The PVA continues to play Kevin Orr I Birmingham, AL an important role in the development of Kris Petroski. Minneapolis. MN wheelchair basketball and other wheelchair Cathy Potthast, Champaign, IL sports. The NWBA extends its appreciation Carol Ann Ryan, Wichita, KS to the PYA for the support given over the years. The faculty for the training included Hedrick, Morse. Karen Morse. and Tim Millikan. The DECEMBER TOP 25 clinic director was Ann C. Walters . The NWBA Top 25 as put together by the Future training programs will be announced as Tournament Selection Committee shows they are confirmed. Attendance at the two­ defending national champions Arkansas Rollin' day clinic and passing of tests associated with Razorback.s in the number one position, the the subject matter leads to certification by the rank the team held in the pre-season poll ACEP. conducted in June. Based on early season game results , the remaining 24 teams are TOURNAMENT BERTH APPLICATION FORMS ranked as follows: (12 of 14 TSC members TO BE RETURNED reporting)

This issue of the Newsletter includes the 1. Arkansas Rollin' Razorbacks Application for Regional Tournament Berth 2. Fresno Red Rollers Form which team representatives are 3. North Florida Renegades requested to complete and return by February 4. Music City Lightning 10, 1994. 5. Golden State Warriors 6. Casa Colina Condors The Tournament Selection Committee will 7. Dallas Mavericks convene in Lexington, KYon February 19 and 8. Ottawa Royals 20 to review the applications. rank the teams 9. Grand Rapids Pacers selected and assign them to the regional 10. Utah Western Wheelin' Jazz tournaments. Team representatives should 11. Lakeshore 'pioneers indicate on the form any strong preference 12. UTA Movin' Mavs they might have for a particular site or if 13. Toledo Silver Streaks they are limited by funds from travelling any 14 . Twin City Spinners great distance. The TSC will attempt to take 15.EPVA Chargers these factors into consideration as they make 16 . Alberta Northern Lights the assignments. 17. Pasadena Big Wheels 18 . Long Beach Flying Wheels Team representatives are reminded that if the 19. Chicago Bulls forms are not received in advance of the 20.Minnesota Rolling Timberwolves meeting and are not postmarked prior to the 21. Charlotte Hornets February 10 deadline, they will not be 22. Univ. of Illinois Fighting Illini accepted. 23. Cleveland Cays 24. Virginia Beach Sunwheelers PYA SPONSORSHIP EXPANDED. 25. Baylor Texans

The Paralyzed Veterans of America has Special mention: Colorado Cowboys. Richmond expanded its sponsorship agreement with the Rimriders. NWBA to include the 20th National Women's 3

USA BASKETBALL RECONSIDERS future." This apparently led the Executive OBLIGATION TO WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL Committee to decide to provide the NWBA with "a maximum grant of $50,000 for each USA .Expecting USA Basketball's implicit go-ahead Basketball approved event to be expended for for the entry and full funding of national all actual team event expenses, as well as wheelchair basketball teams entered in 1994's expenses of the trials and training related World Championships for men and women and thereto ... ". the Pan American Wheelchair Games. NWBA At the same time, the Competitions Committees Commissioner Labanowich has been informed has their respective responsibilities changed that the commitment has been scaled back from selection to oversight of the teams' somewhat from what was previously indicated. expenditures. The news came while the Commissioner was attending the annual meeting of USA A response to this unexpected development Basketball in Colorado Springs. CO I by USA Basketball is being prepared by the November 15 and 16. Also in attendance was Commissioner and the Executive Committee . NWBA President Marvin Lapicola. NWBA JOINS WHEELCHAIR SPORTS USA The NWBA was approved as an active member of USA Basketball in October of 1992 entitling NWBA President Marvin Lapicola and it to a vote and the opportunity to represent Commissioner Labanowich attended the NWAA the sport from among organizations dealing National Delegate Assembly of Wheelchair with basketball for the disabled on the Board Sports USA (formerly the NWAA) In of Directors . Subsequently I Commissioner Baltimore, MD on December 3 and 4. They Labanowich was elected as an at-large member were on hand to witness the assembly vote of the Board . unanimously to accept the NWBA into membership as a National Governing Body. At the same time, USA Basketball revised its The NWBA represents the 8th NGB organized constitution to undertake a "federated" within the structure of the WSUSA, joining approach to the composition and entry of its the sports of archery (AWA), shooting national teams into international competition. (NWSF). swimming (USWS). table tennis This meant that the major national (AWTTA), athletics (WAUSA), quad rugby organizations conducting basketball programs (USQRA). and weightlifting (USWWF). Among would be ca.11ed upon to decide the composition the benefits gained by the NWBA by virtue of of teams that would represent the United alliance with the WSUSA is participation in the States and USA Basketball in the relevant liability insurance program made available established international championship through the United States Olympic Committee. competitions. For that purpose. committees NWBA teams may now obtain certificates of representing the relevant organizations were insurance at an affordable rate through appointed by USA Basketball to assist in the membership in the WSUSA to facilitate access selection process. For national teams in to public and private facilities for practices wheelchair basketball, 8 Competitions and games. Committee for Men and a Competitions Committee for Women were duly appointed. BLUEGRASS TOURNAMENT GIFT TO NWBA Included were individuals representing USA Basketball as well as the NWBA. The The Organizing Committee of the Annual responsibilities of these committees were to Bluegrass Invitational Tournament has select the players and staff for three major donated a computer and printer valued at international competitions for men and women: $2,100.00 to the NWBA. The equipment will the Paralympic Games, the Pan American enable NWBA Assistant Commissioner Mike Wheelchair Games, and the World Woodard to track player classifications and Championships. All are quadrennial team record!:> with greater efficiency than competitions. heretofore possible . Woodard has been responsible for coordinating the issuance of A problem arose in the concern that the certificates of insurance through the WSUSA Executive Committee expressed during its office in Colorado Springs, meeting that there is a " . .. potential for several additional disabled basketball organizations to become members in the near 4 1994 NWBA/PVA CAMP AT BLAINE, MN France and Israel, countries would ordinarily have qualified via a tournament for countries The 1994 NWBA/PVA Basketball Camp is in the Americas, the FESPIC Games (Far East scheduled to be held at the National Sports and South Pacific areas) and a worldwide Center in Blaine, MN, July 31 to August 6. tournament organized for all other nations. But because of the late confirmation of the Andy Krieger. Associate Dil'Qctor of Sports competition in England, the IWBF Executive and Recreation for the Paralyzed Veterans of Committee decided to forego the qualification America has recommended to the PV A process and instead awarded berths on the Executive Committee and the NWBA that the basis of recent past performance. bid submitted by Tobe Broadrick of Courage Center of Golden Valley, MN I be approved. The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation This follows after 8 competing bid proposed stepped in to host the tournament after IWBF by the Big East Conference to host the 1994 efforts over the past four years to locate the Camp at the University of Connecticut jn tournament in several other countries failed. Stars, CT was turned down . Krieger reports that after an August site visit. the Big East The USA reigns as current World Champion bid was considered attractive but that "due to having won the inaugural event in St. some accessibility concerns (bathroom Etienne, France in 1990 by defeating Germany facilities) I I felt it needed some work." 58-55 . Canada finished third with a 42-39 victory over Holland. Canada emerged as Krieger and Broadrick, together with Lew Paralympic Games champion in 1992 by Shaver, NWBA/PVA Camp Director, and Tom defeating the USA 35-26, while the Wheaton, Sports Director of the Minensota Netherlands came up as the bronze medallist Chapter of PYA, conducted a site visit of the with its 42-33 victory over Australia. NSC, November 16 to 18. They found the athletic complex and associated facilities for APPROACHING DEADLINES housing and meals to be more than fitting for the holding of the Camp. The NSC has five January 15: - nominations for NWBA Hall of tartan-surface courts, cafeteria, and lodging Fame to Saul Welger, 80 Avenue P, Brooklyn. facilities within a central facility. Costs for NY 11204 accommodations are more than reasonable and - nominations for Secretary of the NWBA to will be reflected in the per person Lew Shaver, Bellows 122, Southwest State registration fees to be published at a later Univ., Marshall, MN 56258 date . - Proposals to amend the NWBA playing rules to Ralph Smith, Recreation and Park WOMEN'S 1994 GOLD CUP TO BE HELD IN Management. The Pennsylvania State ENGLAND University. 201 Mateer Bldg. I University Park, PA 16802 (Note new address) The IWBF has issued an official invitation to the U.S. to enter a team in the 1994 Women's February 1: - proposed amendments to the Gold Cup World Championship to be held at NWBA Constitution to Deborah D. Lightfoot, Stoke Mandeville. England, August 4-14, 111 E. 9th 51., Lincoln, CA 95648 1994. T he championship is held every four - bids for the 48th NWBT in 1996 to the Office years. of the Commissioner

Invitations have been extended to 12 February 10: last day for mailing countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Application for Regional Tournament Berth to France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, the Office of the Commissioner (The Spain, Sweden, USA, and the host, Great Tournament Selection Committee will meet on Britain. Ordinarily, countries would be February 19) required to Qualify for the tournament according to strictly defined rwSF rules and Marsh 1: - proposed amendments to the NWBA regulations. Beyond the entry of the Bylaws to Deborah O. Lightfoot (address organizing country, the top four teams in the above) 1992 Paralympic Games (Canada, USA, Holland and Germany) and the two next best placed teams in the 1993 European Championships, 5

POST-SEATON TOURNAMENT DATES FOR contingent amounts to $20,400. The 1994 tournament sponsors are expected to assume the costs of accommodations (lodging and March 7-9: - 1994 National Intercollegiate meals) for the eight day period. Tournament (NIWBT) at University of Texas­ Arlington Under a previous agreement with the IWBF wherein the U. S. was expected to host 8 March 11-13: - Regional tournaments leading qualification tournament in San Jose, CA in to the 46th NWBT at 16 sites the week following the 46th NWBT, an economy of sorts was anticipated with the on­ March 15-22: 20th National Women's site presence of a large percentage of players Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, Dallas, TX participating in the Final Four who would be available to try out for the national team. l\o1arch 26-27: - Sectional Tournaments leading Combining the tryouts with a following to the 46th NWBT at 4 sites weekend qualification tournament involving other nations in the Americas appeared to be April 8-9: - 46th Annual National Wheelchair a reasonable way of accommodating Basketball Tournament (Final Four), San prospective players' scarce time and the Jose, CA overall expenses attributed to putting a national team together. This arrangement, POSSIBILITY OF QUALIFICATION the costs of which are difficult to estimate TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN BRAZIL because of the inability to anticipate how many nations other than the U . S . would The International Wheelchair Basketball enter t calls for the NWBA to raise the money Federation has determined that a single for expenses related to the tournament (gym qualification tournament leading to the 1994 rental, officials' and classifiers' travel and men's world championship in Edmonton, accommodations) and on-site ground Alberta will be held for all nations in the transportation. Americas. The Executive Committee will deliberate on Originally I two tournaments were scheduled to which of the two possibilities is the most qualify three teams - one in Brazil in reasonable way of qualifying the U. S. team December for teams in South America, and a for the 1994 championships in Edmonton. second in April for two nations in Central and North America that had not otherwise IWBF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN qualified I in the United States . BELGIUM Unfortunately, the organizers of the December tournament in Braz:i..l were forced to cancel A preli.minary report from NWBA Vice because of the withdrawal of funding promised President Tip Thiboutot who attended the by the government. This left the South December 17-18 Executive Committee Meeting American officials to propose rescheduling the of the International Wheelchair Basketball qualification tournament to a later date under Federation in Bruges, Belgium indicates that different sponsorship. the IWBF: o has deferred membership in the The IWBF Executive Committee, meeting in International Paralympic Committee (not to be Bruges, Belgium December 17-19, attempted confused as the presence of wheelchair to resolve the situation by combining the two basketball on the program of the 1996 qualification tournaments and tentatively Paralympic Games in Atlanta, GA) until a later approved the proposal by the Brazilian date Federation to host it in Rio de Janeiro in o declared its independence from the April, with costs to be shared among the International Stoke Mandeville GtUDes competing nations. For the United States, Wheelchair Sports Federation through a letter the commitment would involve payment of of agreement which ties it to the ISMWSF travel expenses for three game officials and simply as a constituent member with two classifiers in addition to the travel costs autonomous governance and formal of a team consisting of 12 players, three representation on its Sports Coordinating coaches, a team physician, and a trainer. Committee The preliminary budget drafted for this o appointed Phil Craven, President of 6 the IWBF. as the Executive Director (Chief o The four top nations from the 1992 Executive Officer) of the rwBF beginning in Paralympic Games the Netherlands, 1994 and ending in 1998. Germany. France, and Great Britain o approved the appointment of U. S. o The two best placed teams from the referees to the following international 1993 European Championships held in Berlin , competitions in 1994: Germany in June other than the teams which Qualification Tournament for the Americas: Qualified in (2) above - Spain and Sweden Mark Nelsen. Sioux Falls. NO I Tony Gonzales. San Antonio, TXt Paul Camitsch, Maple Park , The remaining five teams will be selected via MN qualifying tournaments to be held in early World Championships for Men, Edmonton, 1994. Two berths will be allocated to teams Alberta: Mark Nelsen, Tony Gonzales representing the Asian, Mediterranean and World Championships for Women J Stoke Oceanic Zones in a tournament to be held in

Mandeville I England : Paul Camitsch Iran. Three berths will go to teams drawn o deferred a proposal by the Canadian from the Americas, likely to be held in mid­ Wheelchair Basketball Association regarding April in Brazil. participation of non-disabled individuals in the sport of wheelchair basketball to the first For the Gold Cup, all games beginning on quadrennial meeting of the IWBF to be held in July 21 and ending with the championship conjunction with the Gold Cup Championships game on July 30 will be played at the in E~onton. Alberta, July 21-30, 1994 renowned Northlands Coliseum, home of the National Hockey League team, the Edmonton 1994 BWSF GAMES TO INCLUDE BASKETBALL Oilers . The Coliseum has a seating capacity of 17,000 spectators. The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation has indicated to the ISMWSF that it will host an Serving as the headquarters hotel will be the international competition in eleven sports at Westin, only ten minutes from the game site . Stoke Mandeville, England, July 21 to August Rooms may be reserved by calling (08) 426- I, 1994. Basketball will be an invitational 3636 or 1-800-228-3000. The "Cup" rate is event involving national teams consisting of $75.00 plus taxes per rrlght. players 22 years of age and younger . Six countries will be extended invitations. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECISIONS

The USA has not been extended an invitation The NWBA Executive Committee conducted two to date. While the dates coincide with those conference calls recently. of the World Championships in Edmonton, the BWSF Games offer an excellent opportunity for On December 2, the Committee: budding players of international calibre to o decided that in the event that the gain international playing experience. If the NWBA was called upon to organize a world U.S. is invited to participate, the team championship qualification tournament for selected will be controlled by the NWBA; that teams in the Americas, funding for the is, the players and staff will be appointed by tournament would be raised independent of the Executive Committee . Because no other the NWBA treasury. funding source is available, the NWBA o agreed to pursue the retrieval of the requires that players selected to the team pay 1992 Paralympic gold medal, won by the U.S . all expenses as a condition of membership. men's team and subsequently withdrawn by This can be done through sponsorships at the the International Coordinating Committee, by team or conference level. Further information requesting USA Basketball to seek the will be provided as received from the rSMWSF. assistance of the United States Olympic Committee through application to the IOC SEVEN OF TWELVE TEAMS QUALIFIED FOR Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, 1994 MEN'S GOLD CUP Switzerland o directed the Commissioner to meet with Of the twelve teams that will compete in the USA Basketball President C. M. Newton to 1994 Men's Gold Cup World Championship in express the Executive Committee's concern for Edmonton, seven have been identified to date. and disagreement with USA Basketball's They are: decision to award monetary grants to the o The host country Canada NWBA instead of accepting responsibility for 7 orgaOlzmg national wheelchair basketball Valley Rollin' Rebels because he did not play teams in the same manner as other national for the team in 1992-93 and is entitled to play teams are organized for designated for the Golden State Road Warriors for the international competitions 1993-94 season. o endorsed the arrangement sought by Classic Sport, Inc. of Fort Collins, CO to use the NWBA logo for a one-year period to TOMMY WILLIAMS promote it's marketing of basketballs in exchange for a selected number of Tommy Wj]Jiams, Sr., founder and head coach complementary balls to the NWBA for its of the Palmetto Spinners. died on September national tournaments. and the opportunity for 26, 1993 at the age of 46. The Spinners came member teams to purchase their top-of-the­ into existence in the mid-'70s. Williams is line product at cost ($35 . 00). long remembered as the mainstay behind the o au thomed the Chairperson of the organization of wheelchair basketball in South NWBA Hall of Fame to establish a separate Carolina. He was a Class I. T - 7 paraplegic. ballot for women for the selection process to injured in a fall at the age of 22 . be conducted in 1994 o approved a $50.00 per month travel allowance for the volunteer staffing the NWBA office which opened in Lexington, KY in November. o approved establishment of a $1.000 petty cash fund for the NWBA office which is to be reimbursed on a monthly basis by receipts.

On December 22. the Executive Committee:

o rejected the appeal by Lee Montgomery of the Grand Rapids Pacers to have the remaining amount of his debt to the NWBA ($800.00) for participation on the national team competing in the 1990 Pan American Wheelchair Games waived, leaving Montgomery ineligible for the 1993-94 season until the debt is paid.

An appeal entered by the Toledo Silver Streaks protesting the Commissioner's ruling allowing Carl Marlowe and Bill Wolfe to play for the Cleveland Cavs for the 1993-94 season was not heard because of a communication difficulty. The Executive Committee will hear the appeal at a later date. Marlowe and Wolfe last played for Columbus Buckeye Wheelers. The protest centered on the players' betwen­ seasons transfers as being not in the best interests of the sport.

COMMISSIONER'S RULINGS

In recent days. the Commissioner has ruled that: o Donnie Langford is allowed a same­ season transfer from the East Tennesee Wheel billies to the Charlotte Hornets of the Carolinas Conference for reasons related to employment o Mike Hays is not bound to the Willamette